Removal of retained ventricular shunt catheters without craniotomy. Technical note.

A technique is described in which insulated suction is used to extract infected retained ventricular catheters in cases of shunt infection. This procedure allows safe removal without craniotomy. Retained catheters are pulled through an insulated No. 11F or 13F suction tube attached to an electrocoagulation unit used for resection and coagulation of adhesions. The technique has been successful in two cases with retained catheters.