Intra-gastric migration of the distal ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) catheter clinically presenting with or without trans-oral extrusion is one of the rare complications of VPS catheter insertion.

To identify the demographics, clinical presentation, clinical findings, and results of surgical therapy offered for the treatment of intra-gastric migration of the distal VPS catheter, clinically presented with or without trans-oral extrusion.

An online search was performed for the extraction/retrieval of the published/ available literature pertaining to the above-mentioned VPS complication. Manuscripts were searched from PubMed, PMC (PubMed Central), ResearchGate, and Google Scholar databases using various terminology relating to the VPS complications. The first case of migration of a VPS catheter into the stomach was reported in the year 1980, and the data were retrieved from 1980 to December 2022. Cases were categorized into two groups; Group A: Cases who had migration of the distal VPS catheter into the stomach and clinically presented with trans-oral extrusion of the same, and Group B: Cases who had migration of the distal VPS catheter into the stomach, but presented without trans-oral extrusion.

A total of n = 46 cases (n = 27; 58.69% male, and n = 19; 41.3% females) were recruited for the systematic review. Group A included n = 32, and Group B n = 14 cases. Congenital hydrocephalus was the indication for the primary VPS insertion for approximately half of the (n = 22) cases. Approximately sixty percent (n = 27) of them were children ≤ 5 years of age at the time of the diagnosis of the complication mentioned above. In seventy-two percent (n = 33) cases, this complication was detected within 24 mo after the VPS insertion/last shunt revision. Clinical diagnosis was evident for the entire group A cases. Various diagnostic modalities were used to confirm the diagnosis for Group B cases. Various surgical procedures were offered for the management of the complication in n = 43 cases of both Groups. In two instances, intra-gastric migration of the distal VPS catheter was detected during the autopsy. This review documented four deaths.

Intra-gastric migration of the peritoneal end of a VPS catheter is one of the rare complications of VPS catheter implantation done for the treatment of hydrocephalus across all age groups. It was more frequently reported in children, although also reported in adults and older people. A very high degree of clinical suspicion is required for the diagnosis of a case of an intra-gastric migration of the distal VPS catheter clinically presenting without trans-oral extrusion.

Although several complications after ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) have been reported, transoral protrusion of a peritoneal catheter is a rare event. In the few reported cases from the literature, it is more common in pediatric patients. This case report describes the first adult in the literature with a transoral VPS protrusion after jejunal perforation.

A 58-year-old man with posttraumatic hydrocephalus was noted with the distal tubing of the VPS protruding from his mouth after he vomited. Radiologic imaging showed jejunal perforation of the distal part of the VPS. The VPS was initially externalized, and then removed. The patient remained stable.

We present a rare case of transoral protrusion of a peritoneal catheter 11 months after a VPS procedure and review of the literature through this article.

Peroral extrusion of peritoneal part of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt (VPS) catheter is an extremely rare complication following VPS implantation.

To review the options available for the management of peroral extrusion of VPS catheter.

PubMed, Medline, PMC (PubMed Central), Embase, Google scholar databases search was performed to retrieve the published/available data relating to the peroral extrusion of VPS catheter. The keywords employed were "peroral extrusion of ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter", "transoral extrusion of ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter", and "oral extrusion of ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter". The maiden description of peroral extrusion of VPS catheter was reported in the year 1987, and the data relating to peroral extrusion of VPS were retrieved from that period to June 30, 2016, and those were available in English literature.

Twenty-two published manuscripts (n) were available on the topic relating to peroral extrusion of VPS catheter. All were cases and were included for the review. This review included n=10; 45.45% male and n=12; 54.54% female. All of them were reported in children below 12-year of the age, except two case reports in adult that occurred at the age of 27-year and 47-year, respectively. Overall, the mean age at the time of peroral extrusion of VPS catheter was 6.94 ± 10.87 years. The interval from VPS insertion or last shunt revision to the occurrence of peroral extrusion of VPS catheter ranged from 10-days to 10-year, with a mean of 20.31 ± 28.37 months. More than two-third (n=15; 68.18%) of the case occurred within one-year of VPS insertion/last shunt revision. Clinical diagnosis was obvious in all the cases due to peroral extrusion of VPS catheter. The site of perforation by the VPS catheter was stomach in 15, jejunum in 1, diaphragm/trachea in 1, while the site of bowel perforation was not mentioned in 5 cases. Surgical procedures opted by authors in order of frequency were: (a) removal of entire VPS catheter n=5; (b) removal of entire VPS catheter, and delayed re-VPS n=5; (c) removal of peritoneal catheter with or without External Ventricular Drainage (EVD), and revision of peritoneal catheter n=3; (d) removal of peritoneal catheter, with or without EVD, and VA shunt n=3; (e) removal of peritoneal catheter, EVD and delayed re-VPS n=2; (f) removal of entire VPS catheter, EVD and delayed re-VPS n=2; (g) removal of peritoneal catheter, EVD and others n=2. Two deaths are also reported during the management of peroral extrusion of VPS catheter.

Peroral extrusion of peritoneal part of VPS catheter is an extremely rare complication following VPS insertion, and most frequently observed in children, although also reported in adults. In more than two-third of the cases it occurred within one-year of the VPS placement or last shunts revision, so a close follow-up is a must during this period following VPS placement. Management of such a case depends upon many factors such as presence or absence of shunt tract infection, peritonitis, meningitis, and cerebro spinal fluid infection.

Ventriculoperitoneal (V-P) shunt surgery is the most common technique used for the treatment of hydrocephalus. The migration of ventriculoperitoneal shunt to the bladder is rare. Only two cases have been previously reported in the literature.

We report on a 38-year-old male who had hydrocephalus and V-P shunt for 12 years. Two years ago, he found himself with recurrent urinary tract infections, haematuria and urges incontinence, and then he was diagnosed with bladder perforation and merge stones. The patient had an abdominal operation to cut off and take out the shunt catheter, as well as a transurethral holmium laser lithotripsy.

Bladder perforation and stones are rare examples of complications in V-P surgical procedures. Controlling the effective length of the terminal V-P shunt and modifying it appropriately can effectively reduce these complications.

Ventriculoperitoneal shunts for hydrocephalic children are known to cause serious complications such as GI perforation. Peroral extrusion of the peritoneal part of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is very rare, and management could be a challenge.

An 11-year-old girl presented with peroral extrusion of the distal end of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt tube. Endoscopy and imaging studies showed that the peritoneal end had perforated the stomach and then extruded from the mouth. We used a surgical technique that combined endoscopy and laparoscopy to manage this rare complication.

Peroral extrusion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt tube occurs secondary to perforation of the upper GI tract. Managing this condition involves removing the shunt tube, attention to the perforated viscus and associated infection. A combination of endoscopy and laparoscopy provided superior views, enabled identification of the site and size of the perforated viscus, and facilitated the uneventful removal of the tube.

Migration of the peritoneal end of the ventriculo-peritoneal shunt through the patent processus vaginalis has been described in preterm male infants with 26 such cases in the literature. The occurrence of this rare complication in the female preterm infants has not yet been reported. We report a 3-month-old premature female infant who presented with a gradual increase in head size since birth. Computed tomography revealed obstructive hydrocephalous secondary to the aqueductal stenosis and ventriculo-peritoneal shunt was performed. Ten days following the procedure she presented with swelling and other signs of inflammation over the right vulvar region. X-ray abdomen confirmed the migration of the peritoneal end into the vulva. Surgical obliteration of the patent processus vaginalis and replacement of the peritoneal end was performed. The patient had no recurrence at 6 months of follow-up. This report presents the unusual complication of a common procedure in a female infant with a review of the current literature.

Migration of ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheters, although infrequent, is well reported. We report the unusual event of a patient who, after having had three shunt revisions over a 15-year period, presented with a per-oral extrusion of her original distal catheter.

We report a rare case of shunt malfunction resulting from breakage of the Codman-Hakim programmable shunt valve system following a blow to the head. Originally, the patient had suffered intraventricular hemorrhage a month after birth; ventriculoperitoneal shunt was performed at 7 months. After that, the shunt valve functioned well for 7 years. The patient presented with headaches after receiving a blow behind the right ear. The headache became exacerbated with activity and improved with rest. Damage to the shunt valve was identified during surgery, with a crack at the top of the valve housing. Symptoms resolved following a change of the complete shunt system. The possibility of damage to the shunt valve following a blow should be considered in shunt patients presenting with headaches.

A 47-year-old man presented with repeated headache and feverishness 3.5 years after undergoing ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery for normal pressure hydrocephalus secondary to subarachnoid hemorrhage. Abdominal computed tomography revealed that the peritoneal catheter was encased by fibrous tissue and the distal end of the catheter had migrated into the stomach. The diagnosis was spontaneous gastric perforation by the ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The fibrous tissue was expected to seal the very small gastric perforation, so the catheter was successfully extracted through a scalp incision without abdominal surgical intervention.

CSF hydrocele as a complication of migration or extrusion of the peritoneal end of the V-P shunt has rarely been reported. Here the case of a 6 month old infant, born at 28 weeks gestational age, is reported. The baby was noted to have scrotal swelling, exacerbated by crying, two months after insertion of ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The hydrocele resolved following revision of the shunt. Possible pathophysiological causes are discussed.