Syringoperitoneal shunt for syringomyelia: a preliminary report.

Syringoperitoneal shunting has been used in the treatment of 4 patients with idiopathic syringomyelia. The procedures have been performed without morbidity or mortality. Postoperative observation, ranging from 7 to 23 months, has not revealed progression of symptoms or failure of the shunt. The pathophysiological theories of syringomyelia are discussed, and various surgical procedures for syringomyelia are reviewed and their results compared to the effectiveness of the syringoperitoneal shunt.