[Disturbance of Consciousness in a Patient with an Indwelling Lumbar-Peritoneal Shunt Following Retroperitoneal Laparoscopic Radical Right Nephrectomy : A Case Report].

An 83-year-old man with an indwelling lumbar-peritoneal (L-P) shunt (for idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus) underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical right nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (pT1aN0M0). Peritoneal perforation occurred intraoperatively, and he developed postoperative disturbance of consciousness. Computed tomography showed mild ventricular enlargement, which was attributed to L-P shunt failure secondary to increased pneumoperitoneum pressure. His level of consciousness was improved when we raised his head. Few reports have discussed complications observed during retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery in patients with an indwelling L-P shunt. This case report discusses this topic along with a discussion of previously reported findings.