Ventriculoperitoneal shunt extrusion in pediatric patients, clinical patterns and therapeutic strategies: A scoping review.

Background: Ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPSs) are frequently employed in neurosurgery to treat hydrocephalus, with a particular focus on pediatric patients. Although VPSs are commonly utilized, they are not exempt from difficulties, such as shunt extrusion. The main aim of this study is to enhance comprehension regarding the occurrence, causes contributing to, and consequences of VPS extrusion in pediatric patients. Methods: A comprehensive search approach was implemented, including electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, to locate pertinent articles published between January 1950 and May 2023. The utilization of keywords such as "ventriculoperitoneal shunt" and "extrusion," "ventriculoperitoneal shunt" and "migration," and "ventriculoperitoneal shunt" and "perforation" was employed. Data on patient demographics, underlying diseases, origin of extrusion, presenting symptoms, treatment, and follow-up were gathered. Statistical studies were conducted to identify potential risk factors connected with the occurrence of shunt extrusion. Results: A study analyzed 80 studies on 120 individuals with extruded VPS catheters. The majority of patients (55.8%) had symptoms such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage and irritation. Hydrocephalus was categorized into congenital (40%), obstructive (36.7%), and communicating (11.7%) groups. Catheter extrusion sites varied, with most from the anal or rectal site. Preoperative meningitis or peritonitis was present in 20% of patients. Treatments ranged from shunt removal to endoscopic third ventriculostomy, resulting in a 90% recovery rate, 1.7% mortality, and 5% follow-up loss. Conclusion: Extrusion of the distal catheter in VPSs is a critical medical situation that necessitates urgent surgical intervention. The presence of an infection raises the likelihood of complications; hence, it is vital to promptly address the issue through the administration of antibiotics and the replacement of the shunt. Timely intervention enhances results.

Ultrasonographic assessment of optic nerve sheath diameter as a screening tool for intracranial hypertension in traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a condition burdened by high morbidity and mortality. Prevention of secondary insults is one of the main goals of management and intracranial pressure monitoring is a cornerstone in management of TBI. The relationship between intracranial pressure and optic nerve sheath is known from the literature. Optic nerve sheath ultrasonography could represent a method added to our armamentarium for monitoring intracranial pressure. METHODS: We investigated how ultrasound-measured optic nerve sheath diameter varies as a function of intracranial pressure in a cohort of patients with severe blunt head injury in whom an intraparenchymal sensor was placed. We evaluated the accuracy of optic nerve sheet diameter (ONSD) in distinguishing dichotomized ICP cut-offs and analyzed the learning curve and its potential as screening tool to select TBI patients most in need of invasive ICP monitoring in a setting with constraints on resources. RESULTS: ONSD and ICP have a linear relationship. Nevertheless, there are limits of evaluating the one-to-one correspondence between those two variables. We selected a cut-off of sonographic ONSD above which there is a concernable elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP>15 mmHg) worthy of invasive second line invasive monitoring. Thus, it is possible to use ONSD as a first line non-invasive tool to intercept patients at risk of developing frank intracranial hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: We propose the use of ONSD ultrasound as a screening investigation for post-traumatic intracranial hypertension in the context of an emergency department, especially in contexts where there is limited availability of intracranial pressure monitors.

Surgical management of pediatric intracranial CCM: a 10-year single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are low-flow vascular malformations made up of dilated vascular spaces without intervening parenchyma that can occur throughout the central nervous system. CCMs can occur sporadically or in familial forms. Presentation is diverse, ranging from asymptomatic discoveries to drug-resistant epilepsy and hemorrhages. METHODS: We describe the surgical management of CCMs in pediatric patients at Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome over the last 10 years. The cases have been stratified based on the clinical presentation and the relevant literature is discussed accordingly. RESULTS: We discuss the rationale and technique used in these cases based on their presentation, as well as the generally positive outcomes we achieved with early surgical management, use of intra-operative ultrasound (ioUS) and intraoperative neuromonitoring. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management of pediatric CCMs is a safe and effective strategy, low rates of postoperative morbidity and partial resection were observed.