Abstract
Introduction: We report a series of infants with optic chiasmal hypothalamic astrocytomas (OCHAs) who developed abdominal ascites following ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunting. The mechanism of ascites development among these patients with OCHA remains speculative and unclear. Methods: We treated four infants with hypothalamic tumors who were shunted for hydrocephalus using standard VP shunts and who subsequently experienced symptomatic ascites. Results: In three patients the gallbladder proved an effective alternative site for shunting prior to conversion to other sites, and in one patient the gallbladder shunt remains functional and revision-free. Conclusions: Several aspects of the gallbladder as a reservoir for CSF make this approach appealing. Ventricular gallbladder shunting provided an effective (at least temporarily) receptacle for CSF in these patients.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 382-384 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Child's Nervous System |
Volume | 21 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1 2005 |
Keywords
- Ascites
- Gallbladder shunt
- Hydrocephalus
- Hypothalamic gliomas
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Clinical Neurology