Early shunt complications in 46 children with hydrocephalus.

Objective: To determine the causes of early shunt complications in 46 children with hydrocephalus.

Method: A retrospective study was conducted on 46 children submitted to ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery between February 2005 and February 2007.

Results: Thirteen (28%) patients presented complications, which were due to infection in 9 (69%) and to malfunction of the shunt system in 4 (31%).The mean number of surgical procedures performed on patients who presented complications was 2.8 per patient, with a total of 46 surgeries in this group. All patients with infectious complications were identified during their hospital stay.

Conclusions: Infection was the most common complication. The infection rate was proportional to the length of hospital stay. All patients with hydrocephalus due to tumors or myelomeningocele presented complications. A higher incidence of infections was observed in children older than 2 years.