[Spontaneous transection of a Raimondi peritoneal catheter--a case report with scanning electron microscopic study of the transected tube].

Spontaneous transection of Raimondi peritoneal catheter is reported. A 6-month-old boy with communicating hydrocephalus had ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery using Raimondi peritoneal catheter. Six months later, Raimondi catheter was found to be spontaneously transected in a peritoneal cavity. At the age of 5 year-old, the originally installed Raimondi catheter was again transected on the portion of chest wall. Scanning electron microscopic examination of the broken end of spring wire suggested that transection was caused by repetitive exertion of external forces. Mechanisms of transection of this catheter was discussed with review of the literature.