Ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure resulting from complications of the thoracic segment of the shunt catheter. Case report.

A case of intrathoracic ventriculoperitoneal (V-P) catheter placement and migration resulting in hydrothorax is presented to direct attention to complications involving the thoracic segment of V-P shunt tubing. Inadequate catheter length and upper and lower thoracic segment disconnections are also discussed in addition to the role of radiography, nuclear medicine, and computed tomography (CT) in their evaluation. The lateral thoracic roentgenogram is useful in screening post shunt patients to exclude catheter deviation. Sonography over the extrathoracic tube course offers a rapid check for adjacent fluid collections as the tubing is frequently palpable and easily located by the anterioposterior roentgenogram.