Evaluating the Results of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery in Pediatric Patients

Background: Surgical placement of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt constitutes the most common surgical treatment for hydrocephalus in pediatric patients. However, complications of VP shunt surgery are associated with increased mortality and morbidity. We aimed to investigate the results of ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement surgery in pediatric patients.Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study performed from the ۲۱st of March ۲۰۱۸ to the ۲۱st of March ۲۰۲۲ in the neurosurgery ward of Akbar pediatric hospital, Mashhad, Iran. All pediatric patients undergoing ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement surgery with hydrocephalus were evaluated and followed.Results: In total, ۱۹۲ patients, including ۱۰۷ males (۵۶.۶%), with a mean age of ۵۸.۸۵ ± ۴۱.۱۶ months, were studied. The mean follow-up period was ۲۶.۵۳ ± ۱۳.۶۱ months. Hydrocephalus was idiopathic in the majority of patients (۸۶.۵%). The most frequent indication for surgery was brain tumor (۴۷.۷%). Cognitive, verbal, and motor development were normal in ۸۴.۵%, ۷۲.۷%, and ۴۱.۸% of cases. Shunt infection and dysfunction occurred in ۸.۸% and ۱۸.۲% during the follow-up period, respectively. The overall mortality rate was ۲۳.۴%.Conclusion: Our study provides valuable insights into the prevalence of complications and outcomes of VP shunt surgery in pediatric patients with hydrocephalus in northeastern Iran. Further research is warranted for developing measures to prevent or reduce the prevalence of these complications.

کلیدواژه ها:

Hydrocephalus ، ، ، ، ، Ventriculoperitoneal shunt ، ، ، ، ، Surgery