An Unusual But Possible Complication After Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy.

BACKGROUND: We present an unusual but possible complication after ETV for the treatment of acute hydrocephalus due to malfunction of a previously implanted V-P shunt. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 12-year-old male patient was urgently operated upon by means of an endoscopic third-ventriculostomy and the positioning of a temporary external ventricular catheter because of the malfunction of a previously implanted V-P shunt; immediately after the operation, the tip of the external catheter caused an obstruction of the ostomy, which was resolved with the withdrawn of catheter for circa 1 cm, left closed and ultimately removed after 4 days. The patient did not present any further symptom and remained shunt-free at the last 2-year follow-up visit.
CONCLUSIONS: One should consider such occurrence in cases of early ETV failure when a ventricular catheter is left in situ, even though temporarily.