Heim R C, Kaufman B A, Park T S
Department of Neurosurgery, Bethesda Naval Hospital, Maryland.
Childs Nerv Syst. 1994 Aug;10(6):399-400. doi: 10.1007/BF00335131.
The entire length of distal tubing from a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was found to have migrated into the subgaleal space, and resulted in a shunt obstruction. Upward migration of distal shunt catheters has rarely been reported, but probably involves patient motion that creates a "windlass" effect. Cephaled migration requires a potential space (subgaleal or ventricular) and no resistance to movement of the tubing. This complication can be prevented by securing the shunt near the site of motion.
