Managing pregnancy in women with ventriculoperitoneal shunt: a review of the literature

Authors

  • Maja Brkic Clinical hospital Sv.Duh, Sv.Duh 64, HR-10000 Zagreb
  • Kosjenka Dermit Clinical hospital Sv.Duh, Sv.Duh 64, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Tihana Galic Clinical hospital Sv.Duh, Sv.Duh 64, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Marta Orlovic Clinical hospital Sv.Duh, Sv.Duh 64, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Ana Marija Krznaric Lovosevic Clinical hospital Sv.Duh, Sv.Duh 64, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Ivona Plesa Clinical hospital Sv.Duh, Sv.Duh 64, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Vladimir Blagaic Clinical hospital Sv.Duh, Sv.Duh 64, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1219226

Keywords:

caesarean section, spinal anesthesia, vaginal delivery, ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Abstract

The ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is an effective and mainstay treatment for hydrocephalus and since its introduction in 1971, the number of hydrocephalus patients reaching reproductive age has increased. There are still doubts about management of these pregnancies, especially when it’s about mode of delivery. The article aims to provide an overview of the current issues associated with the management of the patients with VP shunt. The emphasis is on proper care of these patients including multidisciplinary management throughout pregnancy, delivery and maternity, as well as on intensive medical consultation when planning pregnancy.  Evaluation by both neurosurgeons and obstetricians, along with MRI images, should be performed before pregnancy. Vaginal delivery with, if needed, shortened second stage of labor is preferred in women without absolute neurosurgical indication, acute neurologic condition or concrete obstetrical indication. In cases of obstetrical indications and with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, the caesarean section is required.

References

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Published

2017-09-30

How to Cite

Brkic, M., Dermit, K., Galic, T., Orlovic, M., Krznaric Lovosevic, A. M., Plesa, I., & Blagaic, V. (2017). Managing pregnancy in women with ventriculoperitoneal shunt: a review of the literature. BioMedicine and Surgery, 1(3), 141–143. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1219226

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 3 (2017)

Section

Review

License

Articles in BioMedicine and Surgery are published under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license. Full text of Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license can be viewed at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode.