Minimally invasive implantation of the peritoneal catheter in ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for hydrocephalus: analysis of data in 151 consecutive adult patients

Abstract

Object The authors report on their experience with laparoscopy-guided implantation of a peritoneal catheter in ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement procedures in adults. Methods In performing the conventional method of shunt placement in 2001, 8% of the cases resulted in malposition and dislocation of the distal catheter; therefore, the authors together with personnel from the Department of General Surgery decided to utilize an interdisciplinary approach involving laparoscopy-guided implantation of the catheter. Between October 2001 and January 2005, 202 ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement procedures were conducted in adult patients for hydrocephalus of various origins. In 152 patients, laparoscopy-guided implantation of the distal catheter was performed. In all except one of these patients, implantation was successful. Laparoscopy and the cranial part of the surgery were performed simultaneously. There was an 8% rate of malposition of the distal catheter in the nonlaparoscopy group. In contrast, there was no dislocation or malposition of the distal catheter in the laparoscopy group. Two cases (1.3%) of shunt infection occurred in the laparoscopy group. Conclusions Laparoscopic implantation of a distal catheter is a simple, minimally invasive, and easy procedure to perform and allows exact localization of the peritoneal catheter and confirmation of its patency.