Recurrent abdominal cyst: a complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt and its management

Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst: a comparative analysis between children and adults

PURPOSE

Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pseudocyst is a rare but important complication in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). In addition to presenting our experience, we performed a comparative analysis between children and adults with this entity. To the author's knowledge, there are no studies in which this condition has been compared.

METHODS

The PubMed database was searched for all relevant reports published from 1954 to 2012. The differences were statistically compared, especially regarding clinical investigations, etiology of the hydrocephalus, shunt revision, CSF infection, treatment, and recurrence. Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to find associations among the variables.

RESULTS

Compiled from literature, we found 393 cases of abdominal pseudocyst: 295 children, including our cases, and 55 adults, with age not informed in 43 cases. In children, 33 % of the patients have a positive culture on presentation, with higher incidence in children younger than 10 years. In contrast, only 15 % among adults were positive CSF culture. In total, 287 abdominal pseudocyst cases who underwent shunt revision have been reported; 78.4 % of children and 62.2 % of adults. The main occurrence of this complication according to the etiology of hydrocephalus in children was different from adults. The recurrence of pseudocyst occurred in 19.8 and 24.2 % of children and adults, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The differences between children and adults might represent distinct trends on the etiology and treatment of this entity. Hence, additional well-designed cohort studies will be necessary to strengthen our findings.

Abdominal Cerebrospinal Fluid Pseudocyst Due to Infection with Enterococcus Faecalis

Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst is a rare complication of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt occurring as a result of non-absorption of cerebrospinal fluid from the abdominal cavity due to inflammation. Usual presentations include abdominal symptoms; abdominal distention, pain, nausea, vomiting and symptoms of raised intracranial pressure like headache due to shunt dysfunction. The diagnosis may be delayed in severely handicapped patients due to poor communicability, multiple associated complications or co-morbidities. Radiological modalities are used for diagnosis as well as treatment.

An alternative approach for management of abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocysts in children

BACKGROUND

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) abdominal pseudocyst is an uncommon but important complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunts. From the collected series, several features about the etiology and management become apparent. Retrospective data were obtained from 12 children treated with cerebrospinal fluid abdominal pseudocyst defined an alternative approach for management of these patients.

METHODS

There were eight girls and four boys who ranged in age from 12 days to 18 years old (mean 7.7 months). The most frequent etiology of the hydrocephalus was Chiari type II malformation in six cases. Initial presentation with shunt malfunction was detected in nine cases. Abdominal distention and/or pain were the most frequent finding in our series (10/12). In only one case, infection was detected for all cerebrospinal fluid abdominal pseudocysts (8.3%). Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) externalization, antibiotics, and cyst aspiration was performed in 8/12 cases as initial management of abdominal pseudocyst. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt reinsertion in abdominal cavity and/or endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) was performed as final management in 9/12. Ventriculoatrial shunt was used only in three cases. Recurrence of the abdominal cyst was observed in two cases.

DISCUSSION

Based on the success rate (75%) in our series submitted to this management, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt can be safely reinserted in the majority of the patients. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy could be performed in selected cases as an alternative approach. Although infection has been reported as responsible for pseudocyst formation, it was only exceptionally found in our series.

Abdominal pseudocyst: predisposing factors and treatment algorithm

Abdominal pseudocyst (APC) is an uncommon complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunts. Various predisposing factors have been attributed to it, including the presence of infection and multiple shunt revisions. We reviewed the records of shunt revisions performed over a 20-year period. During that time, 64 cases of APC were found in 36 patients. The records were then reviewed for the presence of infection, history of necrotizing enterocolitis, prior abdominal surgery, and treatment performed. Of the cases of APC, 46 were primary and 18 were recurrent. A history of prior abdominal surgery other than shunt revision was found in 47% of patients and a history of necrotizing enterocolitis was found in 19% of patients. The average number of prior shunt revisions was 4.1 per patient. Shunt infection as defined by positive cultures of either cerebrospinal fluid or abdominal fluid was present in only 23% of cases of APC. A history of prior shunt infection was present in 30% of patients. Infection was treated by shunt removal, external ventricular drainage, and appropriate antibiotics. After the infection was cleared or if no infection was present, treatment consisted of: (1) repositioning the distal catheter into the peritoneum, (2) repositioning the distal catheter into the pleural space, the atrium, or the gallbladder, (3) exploratory laparotomy with lysis of adhesions and repositioning the peritoneal catheter, (4) APC aspiration only, or (5) shunt removal or disconnection. Because of the complexity of APC management, we analyzed the outcomes of our cases and outlined an algorithm to simplify this process.

Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst in a severely handicapped patient with hydrocephalus

We present a case of an abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst as a rare complication of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The patient is a severely handicapped bedridden spastic quadriplegic with hydrocephalus. He underwent surgical reconstruction of a shunt tube because of shunt disconnection at the age of 12 years. Fever and frequent vomiting developed 2 months after surgery, and abdominal fullness gradually became severe. He was diagnosed as having an abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst on abdominal ultrasonography. If a shunt dysfunction is suspected, this type of cyst should also be considered, and abdominal ultrasonography should be performed as one of the screening tests for determining the cause of the shunt dysfunction.

Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocysts

Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst in an infrequent complication of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. We reviewed ten patients with abdominal pseudocyst. There were five girls and five boys, aged between 4 months and 14 years. The number of shunt procedures prior to the presentation varied between one and five. Only one patient had had a previous shunt infection. No patients had undergone prior abdominal surgery other than VP shunting. The time from the last shunting procedure to the development of abdominal pseudocyst ranged from 3 weeks to 5 years. Presenting symptoms and signs were mainly related to abdominal complaints in all patients. Three patients also had signs of shunt malfunction. The diagnosis was made by ultrasound in all patients. Shunt infection was determined in six patients. Repositioning if the peritoneal catheter seemed to have a higher rate of recurrence. The diagnosis of abdominal pseudocyst should be considered in VP-shunted patients presenting with abdominal complaints.

Abdominal CSF pseudocysts in patients with ventriculo-peritoneal shunts. Report of fourteen cases and review of the literature

The abdominal intraperitoneal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst is an infrequent but important complication in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts. Since 1954, 115 cases of paediatric pseudocysts have been reported in the literature. One additional report deals with an adult patient. We report on 14 cases of sonographically diagnosed abdominal pseudocysts. Their aetiology, diagnosis, clinical signs and symptoms and surgical management are investigated. In our hydrocephalus series we have an incidence of pseudocyst formation of 4.5%. The most common presentation of the paediatric patients is with symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure and abdominal pain, whereas the adults have predominantly local abdominal signs. Diagnosis is readily made with ultrasonography. Predisposing factors for pseudocyst formation are multiple shunt revisions and infection. Microscopically, the pseudocysts consist of fibrous tissue without epithelial lining. The treatment involves surgical removal of the catheter with or without excision of the pseudocyst wall and placement of a new catheter intraperitoneally in a different quadrant or an intra-atrial shunt. Recurrences are rare, especially under appropriate medical treatment of infection. In our series, microbiologically proven infection was present in 30% of the cases.

Peritoneal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocysts: a complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunts

The authors report seven cases of peritoneal pseudocysts in children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts. After describing the etiopathogenetic hypotheses, the symptomatology and the diagnostic investigations, they review the various types of treatment adopted to date and propose a simple and effective method, which has resulted in rapid resolution of all seven cases.

Emergency department management of ventriculoperitoneal cerebrospinal fluid shunts

Emergency physicians must be familiar with VP shunts in order to recognize critical complications associated with these devices. Knowledge of the major types of shunt devices commonly used and the mechanics of those devices allows emergency physicians to evaluate patients with shunts in an orderly manner.

Ventriculocholecystic shunt. A mortality report

Ventriculocholecystic shunts are not commonly used for the treatment of hydrocephalus. We present a case of a child who underwent such a procedure and died of unusual complications. This case represents a unique juxtaposition of uncommon neurosurgical entities and complications including acquired communicating hydrocephalus, bilious ventriculitis secondary to a ventriculocholecystic shunt, and pulmonary edema. The unusual features of this case are discussed and emphasis is placed on the pathophysiologic findings.

Recurrent abdominal pseudocyst after ventriculoperitoneal shunt

A child with recurrent intra-abdominal pseudocyst following ventriculoperitoneal shunt is reported. Peritoneal tuberculosis was the most probable aetiology in this case.

Abdominal and genitourinary complications following ventriculoperitoneal shunts

Three patients with complications secondary to ventriculoperitoneal shunts for the management of hydrocephalus are described. Abdominal and genitourinary complications that may occur after the shunting procedure usually are owing to abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid or perforation by the shunting catheter tip.

Cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst after urinary diversion

The development of an abdominal mass after urinary diversion in a patient with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt should alert the physician to the possibility of a cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst. Two pediatric cases of cerebrospinal fluid pseudocysts are presented to illustrate this complication. The etiology, diagnosis and management of the pseudocyst are discussed and the literature is reviewed.