Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with blocked brain shunt from abdominal pseudocyst
By Driver, C J et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2013·The Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Intra-abdominal blockage of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt by a suspected mesenteric pseudocyst in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old dog that had surgery to treat hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in the brain) came back to the vet 10 months later showing signs of balance problems and coordination issues. An MRI suggested that the catheter used in the surgery was blocked. Unfortunately, the dog was euthanized, and a postmortem exam revealed that the catheter was obstructed by fibrous tissue, possibly due to a pseudocyst (a fluid-filled sac). This case highlights that complications can occur after this type of surgery in dogs, similar to what is seen in humans.
People also search for: dog balance problems after hydrocephalus surgery · dog ventriculoperitoneal shunt complications · dog pseudocyst treatment
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are few reports of abdominal complications following ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement for the treatment of hydrocephalus in dogs. CASE REPORT: A 3-year-old dog underwent successful VP shunting for the treatment of hydrocephalus, but re-presented 10 months later with progressive central vestibular syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain suggested VP catheter obstruction. The dog was euthanased and on postmortem examination the abdominal tip of the VP catheter was ensheathed and blocked by fibrous mesentery, possibly a pseudocyst. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal complications are common in humans, with pseudocysts reported in up to 4.5% of cases. This diagnosis should be considered for dogs re-presenting following VP shunt surgery.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30049049/