Lumboperitoneal shunt placement using computed tomography and fluoroscopy in conscious patients

J Neurosurg. 2009 Sep;111(3):618-22. doi: 10.3171/2009.1.JNS08204.

Abstract

The authors have developed a minimally invasive lumboperitoneal shunt placement procedure conducted after administration of a local anesthetic. The procedure involves placing a guide wire and a peel-away sheath under fluoroscopic and CT guidance. Between June 2004 and August 2006, 40 patients (21 men and 19 women; mean age 72.5 years [range 33-86 years]) underwent surgery. A Codman Hakim programmable valve system (82-3844, Codman & Shurtleff, Inc.) was used for the procedure. The mean operating time was 53 minutes, and 7 patients (17.5%) developed shunt dysfunction complications. These complications comprised an infected shunt valve in 2 patients, postoperative lower-limb pain in 1 patient, and shunt obstruction (caused by debris and hemorrhage) at the ventral and lumbar ends in 2 patients each. This procedure is less invasive than conventional lumboperitoneal shunt insertion and could be performed as an outpatient surgery for treatment of idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / instrumentation
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / methods*
  • Female
  • Fluoroscopy*
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / surgery
  • Lumbosacral Region
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*