Long-term results after ventriculoatrial and ventriculoperitoneal shunting for infantile hydrocephalus.

This series of 228 patients with infantile non-neoplastic hydrocephalus who received either a ventriculoatrial (VA) or a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt before 2 years of age was followed for an average of 7 years, and the results with the two types of shunt were compared. Mortality and infection rates were similar for both groups of patients, but children with VP shunts required significantly fewer revisions and had a much greater likelihood of not having any revisions during the follow-up period. Late complications occurred more frequently with VA shunts and were more serious. It is concluded that VP shunts offer significant advantages over VA systems in this population.