Methods and Devices for Posterior Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement Surgery: 25 Years of Iterative Refinement.

BACKGROUND: The posterior ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement procedure is technically efficient and cosmetically appealing. The main limitations of the posterior approach relate to the technical challenges associated with accurately placing the ventricular catheter. In this report, we describe methods and simple devices used for posterior VPS surgery that have evolved over a >25-year period to enhance catheter placement accuracy and reduce complication rates. OBJECTIVE: We describe the combination of methods and customized devices used at a single institution to perform posterior VPS surgery. Results are presented for the most recent 11-year epoch, along with a description of sources of technical errors and plans for further methodologic refinements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records and imaging studies of 468 patients undergoing posterior VPS, from 2007 to 2018 were reviewed. Ventricular catheter placement accuracy data were collected and complications were identified and recorded. RESULTS: Optimal ventricular catheter placement was achieved in 98.29%. Of the remaining 1.71%, one half (0.85%) required acute revision surgery. Four patients (0.85%) developed new neurologic deficits following surgery; 2 were related to intraparenchymal hemorrhages and 2 (0.43%) as a result of a misplaced catheter. The deficits resulting from poor catheter placement were transient. The complication rates due to causes other than catheter placement accuracy compared favorably with those reported previously in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: Using the methods and devices described in this series, posterior VPS operations can be performed safely with a high degree of ventricular catheter placement accuracy.

Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Associated With a Vestibular Tumor: An Unusual Case and Review of the Literature.

Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVF) are rare vascular malformations. They are generally considered to be acquired lesions, often attributed to dural sinus thrombosis and intracranial venous hypertension. The authors encountered a case of DAVF associated with an octreotide-positive vestibular schwannoma. A 46-year-old female had symptoms of right ear congestion accompanied by pulsatile tinnitus and mild hearing loss. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identified a lobulated mass centered at the cerebellopontine angle. Preoperatively, on cerebral angiography, there was an incidental discovery of a DAVF in the right posterior fossa. The decision was made to proceed with resection of the tumor in a staged fashion. Her latest follow-up MRI showed no evidence of recurrent tumor. This is the second reported case of DAVF associated with an intracranial schwannoma. Findings are discussed along with a thorough review of the literature. This case, combined with the data from the literature review, led us to believe that tumor-related angiogenesis might contribute to DAVF formation.

Complete spontaneous regression of cerebral arteriovenous malformation: a case report and review of the literature.

Spontaneous regression of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is the phenomenon of partial or complete obliteration of the vascular anomaly without any therapeutic intervention. Complete spontaneous regression is a rare event with limited previously reported cases in the literature. We present a new case of complete spontaneous regression of a right frontal AVM and report findings from the imaging studies. Furthermore, we present the findings of a detailed literature review and discuss hypotheses regarding the pathophysiology of this rare occurrence.