Empyema due to ventriculopleural shunt.

Empyema developing seven weeks after craniotomy in a 62-year-old black woman with an ipsilateral ventriculopleural (V-PL) shunt is described. Infection of the pleural space presumably resulted from transfer of organisms from a proximal V-PL shunt infection to the thorax. Empyema resulting from V-PL shunt infection has not previously been reported. Pleural effusions in patients with V-PL shunts must be considered as a potential site of infection with possible development of empyema.