Tag: Shunts

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Radionuclide shuntography for cerebrospinal fluid shunt flow evaluation in adults

J Neurosurg 140:621–626, 2024

Radionuclide shuntography (RS) performed using 99m Tc-DTPA injected into the reservoir of CSF shunts enables evaluation of CSF flow for suspected shunt malfunctions. The goal of this study was to report the authors’ institutional experience with RS and evaluate its utility and associated complications.

METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed all RS studies performed between November 2003 and June 2022. Patients with shunted hydrocephalus who were ≥ 18 years of age were included. Patients undergoing RS for evaluation of Ommaya reservoirs were excluded. Demographics, hydrocephalus etiology, presenting symptoms, study results, subsequent management, complications, and intraoperative diagnoses were recorded. Chi-square tests were reported for categorical variables and standard 2 × 2 contingency methods were used for sensitivity/specificity analysis.

RESULTS The authors identified 211 RS procedures performed in 142 patients. The mean age at procedure was 55.6 ± 20.9 years (mean ± SD). Normal pressure hydrocephalus was the most common hydrocephalus etiology (37.0%), followed by congenital malformations (26.1%) and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (15.6%). Successful radionuclide injection was achieved in 207 studies (98.1%). Shunt patency was confirmed in 63.8% of successful injections, whereas malfunction was demonstrated in 27.1% and abnormally slow flow was seen in 9.2%. RS studies demonstrating shunt malfunction were more likely to result in subsequent revisions than were studies showing patency (86.6% vs 2.9%; p < 0.0001). The overall sensitivity and specificity of RS for detecting shunt malfunction was 92.3% and 96.2%, respectively. The median follow-up time was 29 months, with 151 cases having ≥ 6 months of follow-up. There were no complications or infections attributable to RS in this cohort.

CONCLUSIONS RS is a useful and safe tool in the workup of shunt malfunction.

 

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Shunt infusion studies: impact on patient outcome, including health economics

Acta Neurochirurgica (2020) 162: 1019–1031

The diagnosis of shunt malfunction is often not straightforward. We have explored, in symptomatic shunted patients with hydrocephalus or pseudotumour cerebri syndrome (PTCS), the accuracy of CSF infusion tests in differentiating a functioning shunt from one with possible problems, and the health economic consequences.

Methods Participants: hydrocephalus/PTCS patients with infusion tests performed from January 2013 until December 2015. We followed patients up after 6 and 12 months from the test to determine whether they had improved, had persisting symptoms or had required urgent revision. We calculated the total cost savings of revision versus infusion tests and standard protocol of revision and ICP monitoring versus infusion tests.

Results Three hundred sixty-five shunt infusion tests had been performed where a shunt prechamber/reservoir was present. For hydrocephalus patients, more than half of the tests (~ 55%, 155 out of 280) showed no shunt malfunction versus 125 with possible malfunction (ages 4 months to 90 years old). For PTCS patients aged 10 to 77 years old, 47 had possible problems and 38 no indication for shunt malfunction. Overall, > 290 unnecessary revisions were avoided over 3 years’ time. Two hundred fifty eight (> 85%) of those non-surgically managed, remained well, did not deteriorate and did not require surgery. No infections were associated with infusion studies. For Cambridge, the overall savings from avoiding revisions was £945,415 annually.

Conclusions Our results provide evidence of the importance of shunt testing in vivo to confirm shunt malfunction. Avoiding unnecessary shunt revisions carries a strong health benefit for patients that also translates to a significant financial benefit for the National Health Service and potentially for other healthcare systems worldwide.

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A Novel Method for Cerebrospinal Fluid Diversion: A Cadaveric and Animal Study

Neurosurgery 68:491–495, 2011 DOI: 10.1227/NEU.0b013e3181ffa21c

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversionary methods are fraught with complications (eg, infection, obstruction, and CSF malabsorption at the distal site).

INTRODUCTION: The authors investigated the sternum, specifically the manubrium, as a potential CSF receptacle for patients with hydrocephalus.

METHODS: Five fresh adult human cadavers had the manubrium cannulated in a suprasternal location. Tap water was infused via a metal trocar for approximately 60 minutes. Additionally, morphometric examination of the manubrium from 40 adult human skeletons was performed. Next, 4 anesthetized rhesus monkeys underwent cannulation of the manubrium: 2 were infused with 50 mL of saline over approximately 1 hour, and 2 were infused by gravity drip of saline over 24 hours. Finally, 2 adult pigs underwent long-term ventriculosternal tube placement with analysis for function and potential development of osteomyelitis.

RESULTS: Thirty liters of water were injected into all cadaveric specimens without overflow or noticeable edema. No fluid accumulation was identified. The manubrium had a mean length, width, and thickness of 5.1 cm, 5.0 cm, and 1 cm, respectively. The animals that underwent infusion of 50 mL of saline and the animals that underwent gravity drip tolerated the procedure without vital sign changes or evidence of saline leakage into the pleural cavity. The 2 pigs did not show any vital sign changes, and, 2 weeks post procedure, they had no findings of osteomyelitis.

CONCLUSION: Based on our studies, the manubrium of the sternum appears to be an ideal location for the placement of the distal end of a CSF diversionary shunt when other anatomic receptacles are not an option. In vivo human studies are now required to verify our findings.

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