Radionuclide diagnosis of cerebrospino-pericardial communication after ventriculoatrial catheter placement for hydrocephalus.

A 1-month-old male child with a previously placed ventriculoatrial catheter presented with severe cardiorespiratory distress secondary to cardiac tamponade. A cerebrospino-pericardial communication from right atrial perforation by the catheter was diagnosed quickly and easily by a radionuclide injection of the proximal shunt reservoir.