Presentation
Sepsis
Patient Data
Two tubes are seen. PEG tube is one. The other tube is extending from the mid-abdomen to the left hypochondriac region.
The CT confirms the intra-abdominal location of the second tube. It is a loose tube with no connection. No related collection or bowel perforation was noted.
This image was taken 6 months earlier. No changes noted.
Case Discussion
This was a broken VP shunt with the break confirmed to be in the neck, the most common location. Complications of a VP shunt in the abdomen include peritoneal CSF pseudocyst, bowel strangulation and perforation, none of which are seen in this case.
In the first six months of implantation, infection is more common due to intra-operative contamination by skin flora and commonly leads to ventriculitis or meningitis.
This patient was in sepsis; a source of infection could not be found in the abdomen.