Ventriculoperitoneal shunt

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Craniotomy for cerebral shunt

Ventricles of the brain

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt - series

Shunt - ventriculoperitoneal; VP shunt

Risks for any anesthesia are:

• reactions to medications
• problems breathing

• bleeding
• infection

Common complications of VP shunt include shunt malfunction or blockage, infection. Malfunction may be related to growth and the shunt will need to be replaced with a longer catheter. Symptoms of shunt malfunction or infection include headache, fever, drowsiness and convulsions.

As with any other brain surgery there is risk to actual brain tissue as the shunt catheter must pass through brain tissue to enter the ventricle. Thus a small but potential risk of brain tissue being damaged and resulting in a neurologic deficit exists.

Review Date: 06/10/2005
Reviewed By: Joseph P. Hart, MD, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.