Abdominal Complications from Peritoneal Shunts

Abstract Abdominal complications of peritoneal shunts for hydrocephalus occur infrequently. Pseudocysts, peritonitis, ascites, pseudotumor, and volvulus have been reported. We are presenting a patient who developed an acute abdomen from a pseudocyst to stress: (a) that abdominal symptoms usually precede the neurologic symptoms; and (b) that the abdominal symptoms can develop from days to years after the shunting procedure.