Successful ventricle to direct heart shunt placement as a salvage cerebrospinal fluid diversion technique. Case report

Direct ventriculoatrial shunt in a pediatric patient: case report and technical note

BACKGROUND /IMPORTANCE

The safety of direct cardiac shunts has been historically described in the pediatric population before the introduction of silastic catheters but are rarely utilized in modern practice. Herein, we describe several technical nuances regarding the placement of a direct ventriculoatrial catheter in a pediatric patient, including the creation of a sternal divot to accommodate for the movement of the catheter during growth.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

We report a complex case of a 2-year-old former premature infant with multiple systemic congenital abnormalities, including tracheal atresia (type 2), complete atrioventricular septal defect status post repair, and shunted hydrocephalus. She developed multiple shunt malfunctions secondary to abdominal malabsorption and shunt infections.

CONCLUSION

Multiple options for distal shunt placement, including the atrium via open and endovascular techniques, the abdomen, gallbladder, and pleura, were considered, but the direct cardiac placement was felt to be the safest option given the patient's coexisting conditions. Placement requires a multidisciplinary team. Special consideration should be made for linear growth in children.

Direct heart shunt placement for CSF diversion: technical note

The authors report a complex case of an 18-year-old male with a history of hydrocephalus secondary to intraventricular hemorrhage of prematurity, with more than 30 previous shunt revisions, who presented to the authors' institution with shunt malfunction. After exhausting his peritoneal cavity and pleural space as possible distal sites of shunt placement, he underwent a direct heart shunt placement when it was discovered he had thrombosis of his subclavian vein precluding a standard wire-guided atrial cannulation. His course was complicated by postoperative distal catheter migration and repeat surgery for reimplantation of the shunt directly into the atrium. At the 16-month follow-up visit, the patient showed no symptoms of shunt malfunction or pericardial effusion. Imaging studies demonstrated a functioning shunt system. This is the second reported successful ventricle to direct heart shunt placement in an adult. The authors report on the technical aspects of the case and review the relevant literature.