[Abscess of the abdominal wall following penetration of the descending colon: a rare complication of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt].

: A case of abscess of the abdominal wall associated with a ventriculoperitoneal (V-P) shunt following penetration into the descending colon is reported. A 49-year-old male was diagnosed as having hypertensive intracerebellar hematoma with hydrocephalus, and he was treated by V-P shunt. One year later he experienced left hypochondrial pain with rebound tenderness during a period of one week. He was doing well until 4 years and 10 months after, when barium enema examination and colonoscopy incidentally demonstrated that the abdominal catheter had penetrated into the descending colon. However, he had no symptoms. He remained in good health during a period of observation. A year later he was readmitted to our department with an abscess of the abdominal wall. Plain radiograph of the abdomen demonstrated disconnection of the shunt catheter and it was thought that the abdominal catheter had been passed via the rectum. At operation a subcutaneous abscess was found and cultures grew proteus mirabilis. We discussed the mechanism of the developing of the abscess on the abdominal wall following penetration of the bowel. It is believed that abscess of the abdominal wall may occur due to spontaneous extraction of a previously inserted shunt catheter which has penetrated into the bowel.