Complications and Risk Factors Associated with Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Dysfunction: A Systemic Literature Review

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed at assessing rates of shunt failure and to determine the incidence and causes of VP shunt malfunction to establish firm evidence-based protocols to prevent VP shunt malfunction.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore from June 2016 to July 2017.

Materials and Methods: Electronic databases PubMed, NCBI, Elsevier, Up To Date, Research Gate, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane and Web of Science were evaluated. The search strategy involved the key terms pertaining to the concepts; to reach maximum sensitivity, a combination of the terms “Ventriculoperitoneal shunt” OR “VP shunt malfunction”; “risk factors of shunt failure” AND “shunt infection”; AND “shunt revision surgery” were considered. Randomized controlled trials, case-control studies, and cohort studies which fulfilled the following criteria were included.

Results: The results showed that the most common causes of VP shunt malfunction were shunt obstruction and infection. This study suggests that VP shunt malfunction is frequent in young individuals, mostly caused by shunt obstruction and infection.

Conclusion: Future researches should focus on techniques designed to prevent these complications or on alternative management for hydrocephalus.