Laparoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of malfunctioning ventriculo-peritoneal shunts in children.

Abdominal complications following ventriculo-peritoneal shunting for hydrocephalus are not uncommon. One of the complications that has heretofore required abandonment of the peritoneal shunt has been entrapment or encystation of the peritoneal limb of the catheter system. Four infants have been identified with malfunction of the peritoneal limb of the system by characteristic physical findings of increasing head size and dissection of fluid along the shunt track. Abdominal radiographs in multiple views revealed the tip of the peritoneal catheter to be fixed in position in each patient and sonography aided in identification of encysted catheters. These infants underwent six laparoscopic procedures to define the cause of shunt malfunction and to reposition the catheter. Cerebrospinal fluid cysts were encountered in three infants and entrapment by the falciform ligament in the fourth. All catheters were easily repositioned within the abdominal cavity with laparoscopy forceps and three of the infants presently have normally functioning shunt systems.