Ventriculoperitoneal shunt occlusion due to spontaneous intraabdominal knot formation in the catheter. Case report.

A male infant was born full term with a prenatally diagnosed lumbosacral meningomyelocele and dilated ventricles that required ventriculoperitoneal shunt treatment. Following shunt insertion, a dysfunction occurred and operative exploration of the distal catheter revealed a knot formation resulting in occlusion of the shunt lumen. After the knot was untangled, the symptoms of increased intracranial pressure diminished. The authors stress that any possible cause of mechanical shunt complication should be taken into account when shunt malfunction is expected.