[Simultaneous cephalic migration of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt into the intraventricular and subdural spaces. A case report].

Introduction: Hydrocephaly is defined as a hemodynamic disorder in which the production, circulation or reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid is involved. Migration, in a cephalic direction, into the subdural and intraventricular spaces of the proximal ends (shunt malfunction), is very unusual and perhaps not yet reported. It probably involves movement of the craniospinal region of the patient which leads to a follow on effect due to an underlying disorder.

Clinical Case: We report the case of a polytraumatized baby (non hospital birth, subarachnoid hemorrhage, porencephaly and subsequent hydrocephaly), who had had multiple shunts inserted. On her most recent admission the shunt was not working properly, as confirmed on plain radiological examination. This showed migration of the catheter, in cephalic direction, into the intraventricular and subdural space.

Conclusions: In order that such migration could occur, conditioning factors would be necessary: such as detachment of the shunt at the distal end (technical fault), underlying disease (porencephaly), dynamic factors causing expulsion (abdominal peristaltic movements) dynamic translocation factor (neck movements), dynamic attraction factor (increased CSF reabsorption) and unishunt catheter (offering no resistance to passage through the trepanation orifice).