Ligation of the shunt tube in children with intracranial arachnoid cysts: how to removal the shunt device timely and safely

Objective In the past decade,thousands of the pediatric patients with intracranial arachnoid cysts (ACs) undertook the operation of the cyst - peritoneal shunt ( C - Ps ).More and more complications caused by the insertion and long time staying in the body of the shunt device were reported in recent years.Therefore,it is just the aim of this article to make clear how to removal the shunt device timely and safely.Method 9 pediatric patients hospitalized in Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from January 2004 to December 2009 were taken into the study.We investigated the clinical symptoms and neuroimaging findings just at the time of 6 months after C - Ps.If the cyst disappear or reduce in size were found,follow - up would be continue for 2 years.When the change of the cyst in size could not be found,ligating of the shunt tube would be performed at an appropriate position subcutaneously,and a long time follow - up would be performed.Results The cysts disappeared in 4 out of 9 patients in an average 6 months of follow - up.At the same period the cysts reduced in size in 5 patients.No symptom or sign were found during the following up of 2.4 years after the shunt tube ligation.Conclusions Ligating of the shunt tube can be tried after 2 years of C - P shunt without any change in cyst size and clinical symptoms.The removal of the shunt device will be carried out finally. Key words: Child ;  Arachnoid cysts ;  Ligation of shunt tube ;