Ascites complicating ventriculoperitoneal shunts.

Ventriculoperitoneal shunts are currently a standard therapy for obstructive hydrocephalus. These shunts are associated with a variety of abdominal complications, one of which is the development of ascites. We report an 11-year-old girl with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in whom a low-grade peritoneal infection presented with ascites. This case demonstrates the importance of diagnostic paracenteses, appropriate antibiotic therapy and the potential need to establish an alternative route for cerebrospinal fluid diversion in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts and ascites.