Laparoscopic Management of Colonic Perforation Due to Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: A Case Report

One rare complication of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is colonic perforation by the catheter. Laparotomy to repair the perforation site is usually required for patient with peritonitis. We present a 54-year-old male who was admitted for 1-week history of abdominal pain. He had previously undergone a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus secondary to intracerebral hemorrhage. Computed tomography demonstrated the shunt within the colonic lumen and through the transverse and descending colon. Laparoscopy was performed with intracorporeal purse-string closure of the colonic perforation. The proximal catheter was released by neurosurgeon and we removed the whole catheter using the trocar. Postoperative course was uneventful. Laproscopic management of the colonic perforation may be considered as an alternative choice for diagnosing and treating this kind of complication.