Management of maternal hydrocephalus requires replacement of ventriculoperitoneal shunt with ventriculoatrial shunt: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Women with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt require special care during pregnancy, although they develop few complications related to hydrocephalus. CASE: We recently encountered a pregnant patient with hydrocephalus, which was caused by VP shunt malfunction induced by increased intra-abdominal pressure associated with pregnancy. She was treated by replacement of the VP shunt with a ventriculoatrial (VA) shunt. After treatment, she achieved vaginal delivery. CONCLUSION: We recommend VA shunt implantation as a treatment option for the management of VP shunt malfunction during pregnancy. We further propose that patients in whom the VP shunt is replaced with a VA shunt can achieve spontaneous vaginal delivery.