Transanal repair of colonic perforation due to ventriculoperitoneal shunt--case report and review of the literature.

Colonic perforation is an extremely rare complication following ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting. Laparotomy to repair the perforation site is usually required for patients with peritonitis. Here we report colonic perforation due to VP shunt in a 4-year-old girl, presenting with a distal catheter protruding out of the anus as well as symptoms and signs of peritonitis. The distal catheter was removed and the perforation site was repaired successfully via the anus. Postoperative course was uneventful. Trans-anal repair of the colonic perforation after removal of the distal shunt may be considered an alternative choice for managing this kind of complication. Copyright (c) 2010 Formosan Medical Association & Elsevier. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.