Pneumothorax After a Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Özet

An 82-year-old woman underwent a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement to treat hydrocephalus secondary to a right thalamicintracerebral hemorrhage. Pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema was noted 2 hours later. No respiratory distress wasnoted. A chest computed tomography scan revealed that the shunt tube had penetrated the diaphragm and entered the pleuralspace. The shunt tube penetrated the lung parenchyma and exited the pleural space via the third intercostal space. She underwentchest drainage and VP shunt re-position. The VP shunt functioned properly and no infection was noted. Bending the shunt passerslightly and keeping the passer tip pointed upward and palpable during its advancement may prevent this complication. It may beacceptable to leave the shunt tube in place after chest drainage for pneumothorax.