Efficacy of Seprafilm® in abdominal surgery for ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction: a report of two pediatric cases.

Temporary external drainage with adequate antibiotic treatment followed by ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt reinsertion is necessary to treat VP shunt malfunction with infection. In surgeries for VP shunt reinsertion, the key factors that determine whether the reinserted VP shunt will function sufficiently are adequate adhesiolysis and safe placement of the VP shunt within a satisfactory peritoneal location. Based on these factors, the prevention of postoperative adhesions after surgery for VP shunt malfunction is very important. We present two cases of shunt malfunction related to infection and report their successful treatment using Seprafilm®. Seprafilm may improve the safety of VP shunt reinsertion and preserve the function of the reinserted VP shunt after VP shunt malfunction with infection.