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Child's Nervous System
Published in: Child's Nervous System 10/2018

01-10-2018 | Special Annual Issue

Shunt infections: a review and analysis of a personal series

Authors: Santosh Mohan Rao Kanangi, Chidambaram Balasubramaniam

Published in: Child's Nervous System | Issue 10/2018

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Abstract

Introduction and purpose

CSF diversion shunts are notoriously prone to complications. The most difficult to manage among them is shunt infection, which warrants a prolonged hospital stay. The aim of this paper is to review the pattern of infections, the pathology, and management of shunt infections with special reference to a tertiary pediatric center in a developing country.

Materials and methods

This is a review of shunt infections in general and a retrospective study of all cases operated in the hospital from 2000 to 2015.

Results

The authors analyze the data and try to discern patterns, which may enable newer interventions to treat as well as decrease the burden of shunt infections in the future.

Conclusion

It is difficult to determine the true incidence of shunt infections as there is no definition of what constitutes a shunt infection. There are no standardized international guidelines as to how to deal with an infected shunt. Though the ability to treat shunt infection has improved and the incidence of shunt infection has decreased over time, there is still no consensus on the best way to manage it. The prevention is predominantly based on common sense and has helped but a more scientific algorithm is the need of the hour.
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Metadata
Title
Shunt infections: a review and analysis of a personal series
Authors
Santosh Mohan Rao Kanangi
Chidambaram Balasubramaniam
Publication date
01-10-2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Child's Nervous System / Issue 10/2018
Print ISSN: 0256-7040
Electronic ISSN: 1433-0350
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-018-3890-y

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