One trocar laparoscopy: a valid procedure to treat abdominal complications of children with peritoneal shunt for hydrocephalus

The aim of thispa per isto show the efficacy of laparoscopy using only one umbilical trocar to treat abdominal complicationsof hydrocephalic children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS). Materials and Methods: In a 15-year period, 14 laparoscopies were performed on as many children with VPS complications: in the last 4 patients only one trocar was used to solve the complications, and this subgroup will be the object of the present study. Concerning the indication for surgery, the patients presented one catheter lost in the abdominal cavity; one cerebrospinal fluid pseudocysts; one bowel obstruction; and one malfunctioning peritoneal limbsof the catheter. We used the one-trocar laparoscopic approach in all the 4 patients, and the 10-mm trocar wasalwaysintr oduced through the umbilical orifice in open laparoscopy. Results: The laparoscopic technique was curative in all four cases and permitted the solution of the complication. Conclusions: One-trocar laparoscopic surgery can be considered as the ideal procedure in case of abdominal complicationsof VPS in children with hydrocephalus.