Infection as a cause of peritoneal catheter dysfunction in ventriculo-peritoneal shunting in children.

Peritoneal catheter dysfunction is a significant complication of VP shunting in children. Improvement in technique and material should reduce complications such as detachment and breakage. Shunt infection, even if subclinical, should be suspected as the cause of early peritoneal catheter obstruction, especially if recurrent, as well as in cases of organ perforation. Cultures, prolonged if necessary, should be taken and infection should be treated prior to shunt revision. We have had no recurrence of infection or peritoneal catheter dysfunction after treatment with exteriorization of the infected shunt, antibiotic therapy and insertion of a new shunt on the contralateral side. In infected cases antibiotic therapy, both pre- and intra-operatively, should be a matter of course. With these precautions a better result with the ventriculo-peritoneal shunt should be achieved.