PROFILE OF PATIENTS WITH SHUNT BLOCKAGE IN VENTRICULOPERITONEAL SHUNTS FOR HYDROCEPHALOUS

Background: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt is the commonest treatment modality of established hydrocephalous. The objective of this study was to determine the sex and age distribution, post op year of shunt obstruction and site and causes of ventriculoperitoneal obstruction in patients with blocked VP shunts. Material Methods: This descriptive study was conducted at Department of Neurosurgery, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan from 1st March 2011 to 28th February 2013. All patients with blocked VP shunts were included. Infected and broken shunts patients were excluded. Sex, age in years and age grouping were the demographic while duration from VP shunt insertion in years, post op year of shunt obstruction and site cause of shunt obstruction were the research variables. Mean and SD or median (IQR) was calculated for continuous data while frequency and percentage were calculated for categorical data. Results: Out of 104 patients, 56(53.85%) were males and 48(46.15%) were females. The median age was 4(0.58- 11.75 (IQR)) years. The most common age group involved was of less than one year as 39(37.5%) patients. Shunt obstruction occurred in the 1st post shunt insertion year in 38(36.54%) patients. Shunt obstruction occurred at ventricular end in 57(54.80%) while 47(45.20%) patients had distal catheter blockage. Commonest causes of shunt blockage included shunt tip crossing the ventricle and lying in brain parenchyma in 20(19.23%). Conclusion: Shunt obstruction in VP shunts more commonly occurs in early years of life. It is predominantly at proximal end. It usually occurs during the 1st year of its insertion