[Peritoneovenous shunt (Leveen's valve) : need for radiological control of the position of the distal tube during operation (author's transl)].

The observation of 3 cases with dysfunction of a peritoneovenous shunt due to malposition of the distal tube suggests the need for systematic radiological control of the position of tube in the superior vena cava during the operation. In patients with postoperative dysfunction the first step should be opacification of the distal tube by transcutaneous puncture in order to locate the site of the proximal or distal obstruction and to decide on the further operative procedures necessary (replacement of the value or the distal tube).