Reasons for shunting and reasons for revision: a survey based on data from the UK Shunt Registry

Data from the UK Shunt Registry for procedures carried out between May 1999 and April 2002 was examined for the given reason for shunting and the given reasons for subsequent revisions. Sixty-eight per cent of patients receiving shunts had 'secondary' hydrocephalus, with congenital and idiopathic hydrocephalus accounting for 18% and 14% respectively. Patients with Spina Bifida represented 5.1% of shunted patients.

Table 1 Table I:

The occurrence of underdrainage, overdrainage, disconnection, fracture, infection and migration were broken down by clinical diagnosis. Underdrainage is by far the most common given reason for revision, and appears not to vary with clinical diagnosis. Infection, disconnection, migration and fracture are associated with young age rather than any particular diagnosis. Overdrainage is particularly high in patients with Chiari malformations