Thromboembolism and Cor Pulmonale Complicating Ventriculovenous Shunt

NEUROSURGICAL attempts at establishing shunts from the cerebroventricular system to various sites have met with remarkable success in the management of hydrocephalus. In some cases where drainage is from cerebral ventricle to the superior vena cava or right atrium sepsis or thromboembolism, or both, have been observed as serious complications. We have observed a child in whom cor pulmonale occurred in this way and in whom the autopsy findings suggest a pathogenic mechanism to our knowledge not previously emphasized. Report of a Case A white boy was first admitted to this hospital on Oct 25, 1965 at 3 years and 8 months of age, for surgical correction of a right acetabular defect. He was born by breech delivery and required resuscitation (birth weight was 4,091 gm [9 lb]). At 9 days of age a congenital meningomyelocele was repaired and at 2 weeks of age bilateral club feet were corrected surgically.