Delayed cerebrospinal fluid ascites following ventriculoperitoneal shunt: A case report with literature review

Abstract

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ascites is an abnormal accumulation of CSF within the peritoneal cavity caused by the peritoneum's inability to absorb the CSF, following a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery. Excessive CSF production (e.g, choroid plexus papilloma and choroid plexus villous hypertrophy), high CSF protein secondary to chronic infection (e.g. tuberculosis), and brain tumours (e.g, optic gliomas and craniopharyngiomas) have all been suggested as contributing factors to the formation of CSF ascites. Peritoneal inflammation as a result of several shunt revisions or some non-specific inflammatory reaction to shunt material has also been explored.

Case Presentation: A 3-year-old girl with lumbar myelomeningocele and delayed CSF ascites following VP shunt is reported. Therapeutic paracentesis was employed to relieve abdominal distension, although recurring accumulation was common. The VP shunt was removed and instead of a Ventriculo-atrial shunt, she underwent Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV). CSF ascites gradually disappeared after ETV over a two-week period.

Conclusions: Abdominal paracentesis to relieve ascites and conversion of a Ventriculoperitoneal shunt to a Ventriculo-atrial shunt are commonly used to treat CSF ascites, however Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy, where feasible, is another alternative treatment that can be performed to treat this condition.