Lumboperitoneal shunts
Lumboperitoneal (LP) shunts are a device used to shunt cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of increased CSF pressure.
As the name suggests, a catheter is placed with its tip in the lumbar spinal canal (intrathecal). The distal catheter is tunnelled under the skin and into the peritoneal cavity. The catheter may or may not have a valve that regulates the flow of CSF based on a preset pressure.
It is used for CSF shunting of no intracranial mechanical or local cause of obstruction e.g. communicating hydrocephalus, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, postoperative pseudomeningoceles, and cerebrospinal fluid fistulas .
Complications
Recognized complications include :
- infection (e.g. meningitis)
- shunt malfunction
- blockage or obstruction
- disconnections/breaks
- migration
- leakage
- over drainage
- under drainage
- distal complications
- anterior abdominal wall pseudocyst formation
- rarely, the distal end can encircle the bowel and cause strangulation
- intraspinal complications
- chronic subdural effusion
- acquired Chiari abnormality
See also
