Anal protrusion as a complication of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. Case report and review of the literature.

A case is reported in which the Raimondi peritoneal catheter of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt spontaneously protruded from the anus in an infant. This complication has been previously reported; both pathogenesis and treatment may still represent a problem. From the review of the pertinent literature pathogenesis is mostly related to bowel perforation due to local infective adhesions. Treatment does not imply major abdominal surgery, if after avulsion of the extruded catheter and exteriorization of the shunt no peritoneal signs are present.