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Case Studies | Medicine | India | Volume 13 Issue 6, June 2024 | Rating: 3.5 / 10

A Case of Neglected VP Shunt Causing Small Bowel Gangrene

Aravind Manoharan ^[2] | Suresh Kumar P ^[2] | Sankar Subramanian ^[2]

Abstract: Ventriculoperitoneal VP shunting, a pivotal treatment for hydrocephalus, redirects cerebrospinal fluid from the brain?s ventricles to the peritoneal cavity, alleviating elevated intracranial pressure. Despite its widespread use and effectiveness, VP shunting can lead to complications such as shunt malfunction, infection, and, in rare cases, bowel gangrene due to shunt migration. This report presents a case of a 63-year-old female who developed small bowel gangrene secondary to VP shunt migration. Emergency surgery revealed a 30 cm gangrenous bowel segment caused by mesenteric occlusion from the shunt. The patient underwent primary resection and anastomosis, recovering well postoperatively. This case underscores the critical need for vigilant monitoring of VP shunt placement and function to promptly address and mitigate rare but severe complications.

Keywords: hydrocephalus, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, small bowel gangrene, shunt migration, emergency surgery

Edition: Volume 13 Issue 6, June 2024,

Pages: 1219 - 1220