NEUROSURGERY QUARTERLY, cilt.23, sa.3, ss.162-164, 2013 (SCI-Expanded)
Purpose: Ventriculoatrial shunt placement is one of the most important treatment options for patients in whom the abdominal cavity is not functioning properly because of poor absorption following infections or abdominal surgery. In such cases, management should be aimed at eradicating major vascular anomalies preoperatively to prevent operative failures.Methods: We describe a 7-year-old girl who had been repeatedly operated upon for shunt dysfunction. Routinely performed ventriculoatrial shunt operation failed and postoperative cervical magnetic resonance angiography revealed a potential vascular anomaly; therefore, we performed an ultrasound and angiography-assisted ventriculoatrial shunting technique.Results: The patient's clinical condition improved and postoperative neuroimaging studies did not show any evidence of hydrocephalus.Conclusions: The ultrasound and angiography-assisted ventriculoatrial shunting technique is a safe and efficient choice for patients in whom a vascular anomaly is detected preoperatively.