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. 2024 Dec;40(12):4145-4152.
doi: 10.1007/s00381-024-06648-6. Epub 2024 Oct 11.

Evaluation of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections and risk factors in children

Rahmet Anar Akbaş  1 , Özlem Özgür Gündeşlioğlu  2 , Asena Ünal  3 , Kadir Oktay  4 , Mevlana Akbaba  4 , Ferda Özlü  5
Affiliations

Evaluation of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections and risk factors in children

Rahmet Anar Akbaş et al. Childs Nerv Syst. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: To evaluate the demographic, clinical, diagnostic, and treatment data of pediatric patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection and risk factors for ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection and recurrence of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection.

Methods: Patients aged 0-18 years who were diagnosed with ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection at Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine Hospital between 2016 and 2021 were included in the study. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data of the patients were evaluated retrospectively. Risk factors for the development and recurrence of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection were evaluated. Patients who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt but did not develop any shunt infection were selected as the control group.

Results: Eighty-five patients with a diagnosis of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection were included in the study. Fever (58.8%), anorexia (58.8%), vomiting (56.5%), and altered consciousness (54.1%) were the most common complaints at admission. The control group consisted of 48 patients. The number of shunt revisions was statistically significantly higher in the group that developed ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection compared to the control group (p < 0.001). In patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection, C-reactive protein and cerebrospinal fluid protein values before shunt insertion were found to be statistically significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection occurs most frequently in the first months after shunt application. Therefore, it is extremely important to prevent colonization and contamination during surgery in preventing the development of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection. In the present study, cerebrospinal fluid protein elevation and C-reactive protein elevation before shunt application were found to be significant in terms of the development and recurrence of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection.

Keywords: Child; Hydrocephalus; Ventriculoperitoneal shunt; Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical approval: The study was granted ethical approval by the Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine Hospital Clinical Trials Ethics Committee (July 22, 2022, meeting number 124). Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

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