Percutaneous jugular placement of ventriculo-atrial shunts using a split sheath. Technical note.

The percutaneous placement of ventriculo-atrial (V-A) shunts for treatment of hydrocephalus has been previously reported by several authors as a simplified procedure. However, this technique did not avoid the use of a distal connector between the outlet catheter and the atrial one, which may lead to a disconnection. A technique of percutaneous V-A shunt insertion using a split sheath is described and illustrated with a series of 22 patients. The use of a split sheath eliminates any distal connector thus avoiding the risk of shunt disconnection and reducing the operating time. The average operating time was 31 min. This rapid procedure allowed us to operate on two of our patients under local anaesthesia. The correct placement of the atrial catheter tip was performed under fluoroscopic control and always confirmed by postoperative radiographs. Two incidents of carotid artery puncture were controlled by simple local compression without further consequences. The mean follow-up time is one year. All the patients' clinical conditions improved. We are encouraged to use this V-A technique more frequently as a method of choice in the treatment of adult hydrocephalus or when the peritoneal cavity is inaccessible in children. The use of a split sheath is successful in reducing the operating time and avoiding the use of a distal connector.