Management of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infections in Adults: Analysis of Risk Factors Associated With Treatment Failure.

Background: Little is known regarding the optimal treatment of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infections in adults. Our aim was to assess the efficacy of treatment strategies and to identify factors that predict failure.

Methods: Retrospective, observational study of patients aged ≥12 years with VP shunt infections (1980 -2014). Therapeutic approaches were classified under 4 headings: only antibiotics (OA), one-stage shunt replacement (OSSR), two-stage shunt replacement (TSSR), and shunt removal without replacement (SR). The primary endpoint was failure of the treatment strategy, defined as the absence of definite cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sterilization or related mortality. The parameters that predicted failure were analyzed using logistic regression.

Results: Of 108 episodes (51% male, median age 50 years), 86 were analyzed. Intravenous antibiotics were administered for a median of 19 days. Eighty episodes were treated using strategies that combined antibiotic and surgical treatment (37 TSSR, 24 SR, 19 OSSR) and 6 with OA. Failure occurred in 30% of episodes, mostly due to lack of CSF sterilization in OSSR and OA groups. Twelve percent died of related causes and 10% presented superinfection of the CSF temporary drainage/externalized peritoneal catheter. TSSR was the most effective strategy when VP shunt replacement was attempted. The only independent risk factor that predicted failure was retention of the VP shunt, regardless of the strategy.

Conclusions: This is the largest series of VP shunt infections in adults reported to date. VP shunt removal, particularly TSSR when the patient is shunt dependent, remains the optimal choice of treatment and does not increase morbidity.