Ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Last revised by Ashesh Ishwarlal Ranchod on 11 Jul 2023

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are devices used to shunt cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus.

As the name suggests, a catheter is placed with its tip in the ventricle. The external portion of the catheter is connected to a valve that regulates the flow of CSF based on a preset pressure. The distal catheter is tunneled under the skin and into the peritoneal cavity. 

Several other similar devices can be involved in the shunting of fluid from one cavity under pressure to another cavity of lower pressure:

A shunt series is performed when there is concern about the normal functioning of a VP shunt.

Recognized complications include 1,2:

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