Radiologic Location of Ventricular Tip and the Patency of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

ABSTRACT

Proximal cerebrospinal fluid shuntmalfunction due to ventricular catheter occlusion remains the most common sourceof the shunt problem. The position of the hole-bearing segment of the catheter affects the long term patency of the ventricular catheter of a cerebrospinalfluid shunt.Placementof thissegmentnear thechoroidplexus or injured ependyma increases the probability of obstruction. Accurate locationof ventriculoperitoneal(V-P)shunt tip inrelation to foramen Monro canbe well establishedby plain radiographyregardless of agesor sizes and shapes of head dueto the fact that foramen Monro tothe spatial matrix of the skull is constant. Of 147patients who underwentV-P shunt operations, 49(33.3%)patients had more thanone operations. Radiologicgradingof theventricularcatheterposition is compared betweensingle operatedgroup andreoperated group.Single operated group showed excellentin 33.6%, good41.8%, poor 24.4%of accuracy rateof catheter tip position. Incases ofreoperation, placement ofcatheter tipresulted in excellent 12.5%, good21.8%, and poor 65.6%.These results indicatethat accurate location of ventricular catheter tip affects favorably to the patency of V-P shunt.