Large Abdominal Cerebrospinal Fluid Pseudocyst Complicating Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: About a Case and Review of the Literature
Yakhya Cisse, Daouda Wague, Jean Michel Nzisabira, Diana Diop, Ndeye Fatou Faye and Momar Codé BA
Background: Ventriculoperitoneal shunting is a simple neurosurgical technique used to treat
hydrocephalus, but it is not without complications. One of these is abdominal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
pseudocysts, which can occur in all age groups, with a highly variable onset time, ranging from a
few weeks to several years after drainage. In this article, we report a rare case of abdominal CSF
pseudocyst.
Case presentation: 9-year-old girl admitted 2 months after ventriculoperitoneal shunt for permanent
abdominal pain associated with vomiting and loss of appetite. Clinical examination of the abdomen
revealed a voluminous swelling of liquid consistency, not painful to palpation. Abdominal and pelvic
CT scans revealed a cystic formation encapsulating the tip of the drain. Surgery consisted of excision
of the pseudocyst, evacuation of the fluid and replacement of the bypass drain. The patient made a full
recovery.
Conclusion: Peritoneal pseudocyst, although rare, is a significant complication of ventriculoperitoneal
shunting. Cerebrospinal fluid infection has been identified as its most frequent cause. A multidisciplinary
approach is recommended for optimal patient management.
