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The ventriculoomental bursa shunt

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Abstract

Object

The aim of this study is to access the efficacy of the omental bursa (lesser sac) as a receptacle of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and to use it as an alternative to the ventriculoatrial or ventriculopleural shunts when the peritoneum reduces or loses its CSF absorption capacity.

Methods

Three patients with hydrocephalus presented with malfunctioning of ventriculoperitoneal shunts, secondary to peritoneal blockage caused by previous episodes of shunt infections in two and peritonitis in one patient. All patients underwent previous shunt revisions due to ventriculitis and shunt obstruction ranging from three to eight times. In order to keep the peritoneal cavity as the main receptacle of CSF absorption site, the distal catheter was inserted in the omental bursa, through the foramen of Winslow, jointly by a pediatric surgeon. We denominated this new technique of CSF diversion as ventriculoomental bursa (VOB) shunting. The children have been followed at least for 1 year (range 12 to 28 months) with no recurrence of shunt.

Conclusions

VOB shunting may be considered an acceptable technique to CSF shunting when the anterior peritoneum loses or decreases its CSF absorption capacity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Case report without support agency, no special device has been used in this case, and no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, University of São Paulo Medical School, Rua Barata Ribeiro 237, 4 andar, cjs 43/44/46, Bairro Bela Vista, São Paulo, São Paulo, CEP 01308-000, Brazil

    Hamilton Matushita, Daniel Cardeal, Fernando Campos Pinto & Jose Pindaro Pereira Plese

  2. Department of Surgery, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil

    Jocielle Santos de Miranda

Authors
  1. Hamilton Matushita
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  2. Daniel Cardeal
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  3. Fernando Campos Pinto
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  4. Jose Pindaro Pereira Plese
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  5. Jocielle Santos de Miranda
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hamilton Matushita.

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Matushita, H., Cardeal, D., Pinto, F.C. et al. The ventriculoomental bursa shunt. Childs Nerv Syst 24, 949–953 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-008-0591-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-008-0591-y

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