Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocysts in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts: 30 years of experience*

Aim: We evaluated the treatment outcome of the patients having cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst following ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.
Materials and Methods: During the period of 1975 to 2005, 392 hydrocephalic patients underwent ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, of these eight developed abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst. The medical records regarding the etiology of hydrocephalus, age of shunting, infectious screening, therapy and follow up were evaluated.
Results: Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was normal in all except in 4 patients who showed high level of C-reactive protein. One patient had significant abdominal symptoms as pain, vomiting and diarrhea. All were treated by cyst excision, exteriorization of shunt and antibiotic treatment. A new shunt was placed once cerebrospinal fluid cultures were negative.
Conclusions: cyst excision, appropriate antibiotic therapy followed by new shunt placement once cerebrospinal fluid cultures are negative constitutes the required treatment for these patients with abdominal pseudocyst.

Keywords
Abdominal pseudocyst, Children, Hydrocephalus, Ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction