Ventriculopleural shunt: thoracoscopic placement of the distal catheter

Ventriculopleural shunting is usually reserved for patients with limited options for shunt revisions. We report the case of a 16-year-old boy with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus who required numerous shunt procedures. At the age of 6 years, a ventriculopleural shunt was inserted by an intercostal thoracotomy, and 4 years later replacement of the distal catheter was necessary. Recently, he presented again with a shunt malfunction due to migration of the pleural catheter. We describe a technique for performing the placement of the distal catheter under direct thoracoscopic vision by a peel-off needle into the unscarred thoracic cavity despite two previous pleural procedures. The postoperative course was uneventful. Thoracoscopic assistance in ventriculopleural shunt placement appears to be a safe and effective technique, offering several advantages over the open procedure: it is less invasive, allows a precise positioning of the thoracic catheter under visual control, and confirms appropriate function.