TY - JOUR
T1 - Long-term air-exposed functioning hydrocephalus valve with no infection
AU - Kouyialis, Andreas T.
AU - Stranjalis, George
AU - Korfias, Stefanos
AU - Sakas, Damianos E.
PY - 2006/10
Y1 - 2006/10
N2 - One of the reasons for shunt infection is valve erosion through the skin. In such cases, it is common practice to instantly relocate the shunt to avoid infection. We present a 77-year-old female patient with a 15-month history of hydrocephalus valve extrusion. Despite her poor mental status, clinical condition and hygiene, and the prolonged extrusion period, she developed neither a local nor a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infection. The patient was ultimately treated with shunt removal and repositioning. An extensive literature review revealed no previous report of such a case. This case indicates that under rare conditions, central nervous system (CNS) implantable devices might not become contaminated and may remain functional, even if they remain exposed for prolonged periods.
AB - One of the reasons for shunt infection is valve erosion through the skin. In such cases, it is common practice to instantly relocate the shunt to avoid infection. We present a 77-year-old female patient with a 15-month history of hydrocephalus valve extrusion. Despite her poor mental status, clinical condition and hygiene, and the prolonged extrusion period, she developed neither a local nor a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infection. The patient was ultimately treated with shunt removal and repositioning. An extensive literature review revealed no previous report of such a case. This case indicates that under rare conditions, central nervous system (CNS) implantable devices might not become contaminated and may remain functional, even if they remain exposed for prolonged periods.
KW - Hydrocephalus
KW - Long-term valve extrusion
KW - Shunt complications
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33750289532&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/01.smj.0000232970.54218.24
DO - 10.1097/01.smj.0000232970.54218.24
M3 - Article
C2 - 17100035
AN - SCOPUS:33750289532
SN - 0038-4348
VL - 99
SP - 1127
EP - 1129
JO - Southern Medical Journal
JF - Southern Medical Journal
IS - 10
ER -