Bowel perforation due to peritoneal shunt. A report of seven cases and a review of the literature.

Seven patients with bowel perforations secondary to ventriculo- or lumbo- peritoneal shunts are described. Five additional patients histories were found reported in the literature making a total of 12 cases. The shunt tubing presented in the anus in seven of 12 patients. Clinical peritonitis was present initially in two patients but developed in four others. Gram negative ventriculitis was present in five of 12 patients. Suggestions for diagnosis and treatment of this complication are made based on analysis of these 12 patients.