Laparoscopic Intervention after Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: A Case Report, Systematic Review, and Recommendations

Background: In patients presenting pelvic pathology and a placed ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt, there is uncertainty regarding the decision whether to use laparoscopy. The aim of the article is to examine the available literature as well as sharing our own experiences operating on a patient with a VP shunt using laparoscopy. Materials and methods: We searched online libraries (PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar) for all publications published between January 1975 and December 2018 on our topic. We performed a systematic review and shared our experience with laparoscopy in a patient with shunt and ovarian cancer. Results: The age of the patients ranged from 1 to 79 years. The operations were performed by the departments of general surgery, gynecology, and urology. The time from the shunt operation to laparoscopy ranged from 5 days to 28 years. In different articles, four important points were considered and discussed: the risk of a shunt infection or complication, technical difficulties carrying out laparoscopy in patients with a VP shunt, the necessity of routine monitoring of the intracranial pressure (ICP) intraoperatively, and perioperative strategies to avoid complications. Conclusion: It seems that a laparoscopic surgery in adults with a VP shunt appears to be a safe option. Based on the results of our case and the review of literature, we consider it necessary to have a neurosurgical consult performed prior to surgery, to have the procedure be carried out by an experienced surgeon, and to avoid complications by implementing recommended precautions.