Fatal Sunt Failure 40 years after Implantation of a Lumbouretral Shunt in a Hydrocephalic Infant

Abstract

Long-term results in hydrocephalic children treated with CSF diversion to the ureter have not been reported. We present our experience with seven children shunted with lumbo-uretral shunts during the years 1957-1959. They presented as infants (2-9 months old) with severe head enlargement (46 – 61 cm), all of them with very tense heads and sunset signs. Six of the patients died within two years. The last patient grew up and had been in full-time work for 23 years, when he unexpectedly died from acute shunt failure. He had not been at regular follow-up since his early years and had never been to a CT until his dramatic shunt failure. Although shunt failure may occur after decades with good function of the shunt, the topic is troublesome since very long-time follow-up together with patient awareness may seem appropriate to avoid or reduce the risk of future shunt failure