Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2025

Comments

This article is the author's final published version in Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons, Volume 10, Issue 9, September 2025, Article number CASE25365.

The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.3171/CASE25365. Copyright © 2025 The authors.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Distal bowel perforation by peritoneal catheter (BPPC) is a rare complication following ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement for the treatment of hydrocephalus. In some cases, BPPC may present with extrusion through the anus and can occur years after VPS placement.

OBSERVATIONS: The authors report the case of a 30-year-old woman who had a VPS placed 8 years prior and found a catheter protruding from her rectum. Having pulled out 1 foot of catheter, she presented to the hospital where the shunt was externalized before concurrent VPS removal and laparotomy to repair the bowel perforation.

LESSONS: BPPC with anal extrusion is a rare complication of VPS that can occur years after shunt placement and can present with a broad array of symptoms. BPPC should remain on the differential for people with VPS and systemic symptoms for the duration of their lives. © 2025 The authors. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE25365.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Additional Files
Supplemental Figure 1.jpg (125 kB)
Supplemental Figure 1
Supplemental Figure 2.jpg (86 kB)
Supplemental Figure 2
Supplemental Figure 3.jpg (241 kB)
Supplemental Figure 3
Supplemental Figure 4.jpg (174 kB)
Supplemental Figure 4

PubMed ID

40889386

Language

English

Download

Share

COinS