Percutaneous gastrostomy in patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt: case series and review.

BACKGROUND

There are few data on the safety of PEG in patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

METHODS

Medical records for patients seen in 3 tertiary care, university-affiliated hospitals between January 1, 1991, and January 1, 1999, were reviewed.

OBSERVATIONS

Six patients underwent PEG after ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement during the study period. There was no immediate complication. One patient died of pneumonia 2 months after PEG insertion. There was no instance of shunt malfunction, intra-abdominal complication, or wound infection in the study group. There was no long-term complication, with either the ventriculoperitoneal shunt or the PEG.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the number of cases was small, PEG placement with prophylactic administration of antibiotics appears to be safe in patients with a pre-existing ventriculoperitoneal shunt.