Pimpalwar Ashwin, Iacobas Ionela, Margolin Judith, Phan-Tran Holly, Pimpalwar Sheena
1 Division of Pediatric Surgery, Michael E Debakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital , Houston, Texas.
2 Cancer and Hematology Centers, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital , Houston, Texas.
J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2017 Oct;27(10):1091-1094. doi: 10.1089/lap.2016.0667. Epub 2017 Sep 6.
Denver shunts have traditionally been used for palliation of refractory malignant and chylous peritoneal and pleural collections. We describe an innovative use of the Denver shunt in a child with generalized lymphatic anomaly.
Retrospective chart review of a 6-year-old girl with generalized lymphatic anomaly, who presented with refractory lymphorrhea from the labium majus, was performed. This was managed with innovative placement of the Denver shunt between a large abdominal wall cyst and the peritoneal cavity.
There was progressive reduction in lymphorrhea with complete cessation at 11 months post shunt placement. At 33-month follow-up, the shunt remains patent with no further lymphorrhea.
Denver shunts can be utilized for the creation of internal drainage pathways besides its traditional uses for draining peritoneal and pleural fluids.
