Zero rate of shunt infection in the first postoperative year in children--dream or reality?

The rate of infectious complications following shunt implantations at the Pierre Wertheimer Hospital was 6.4% in 1992–1994. In order to improve this infection rate, new recommendations for surgery were applied and a new type of valve was used. The effects of these measures after a 1-year follow-up were analyzed in 70 patients. The rate of infection was zero, 2.8, and 4.3% at 2, 6, and 12 months, respectively. A case-control study did not reveal any significant risk factor among the patient and surgical factors analyzed.