Childs Nerv Syst. 2025 Nov 6;41(1):342. doi: 10.1007/s00381-025-06971-6.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To describe complications observed within the first postoperative year in pediatric patients who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) surgery at a referral pediatric hospital in Peru.
METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on pediatric patients aged 14 years or younger who underwent their first VPS placement at the Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Hospital de Emergencias Pediátricas, located in Lima, Peru, from 2015 to 2019. Medical records were reviewed to gather data on sociodemographics, VPS surgery, follow-up, and postoperative complications.
RESULTS: A total of 61 patients (36 males, 25 females) were included. The median age at surgery was 407 days or 13.36 months (44-1205). At the 1-year follow-up, 24 complications were observed, including 13 early and 11 late complications. The median time to complication onset was 22.5 days (8-58.25). Shunt failure causes included infection (50%), obstruction (25%), over-drainage (17%), perforation (4%), and migration (4%). Factors significantly associated with complications were place of origin (p = 0.033), preoperative inpatient unit (p = 0.024), preoperative stay time (p = 0.027), and postoperative stay time (p = 0.007).
CONCLUSION: This inaugural study in Peruvian pediatric patients identifies infection as the primary cause of shunt failure. We uncover contextual factors associated with shunt failure during the first postoperative year, contributing valuable insights for future research and clinical considerations.
PMID:41196402 | DOI:10.1007/s00381-025-06971-6
