Fulminant hepatic failure with intractable ascites due to an echovirus 11 infection successfully managed with a peritoneo-venous (LeVeen) shunt.

A case is described of an infant who at 5 days of age developed an echovirus 11 infection with hepatic failure and intractable ascites, refractory to medical treatment. The ascites was successfully controlled with a peritoneo-venous (Le Veen) shunt inserted at 6 weeks of age. The shunt was subsequently removed when the infant was 4 months of age with no recurrence of ascites. At long-term follow-up he is growing and developing normally. This case shows that an adult Le Veen shunt can be successfully modified for use in the newborn with worthwhile long-term survival.