Work

Systematic follow‐ups were not associated with reduced acute ventriculoperitoneal shunt dysfunction in infancy

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: AIM: Hydrocephalus surgery with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is a life-saving treatment, but it has been associated with a high risk of dysfunction and complications. We investigated whether infants who received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt below 12 months of age had a reduced risk of acute shunt dysfunction if they were included in a structured follow-up programme. METHODS: A population-based, retrospective chart review was performed at Uppsala University Children's Hospital, Sweden. Patients were identified by International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes and surgical codes from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2019. Those who received the structured follow-up programme from April 2012 were compared with historical controls. RESULTS: We identified 95 patients (66% male): 47 in the follow-up group and 48 controls. Their mean age was 2.6 (range 0-12) months. There was a high 44% acute shunt dysfunction rate during the first year after primary surgery: 38% in the follow-up group and 50% in the control group (p = 0.25). The difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: The structured follow-up programme was not associated with a significant reduction in acute shunt dysfunction. Predictive models could help to identify patients at risk for shunt dysfunction and complications and improve surveillance and follow-up programmes.

Source: Acta Paediatrica

DOI: 10.1111/apa.17562

Authors: Gunnar Liminga, Benjamin Ahlbäck, Sami Abu Hamdeh, Pelle Nilsson, Christoffer Ehrstedt

Institutions: Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Cerebrospinal fluid and hydrocephalus

Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,270