Long-term Low-Pressure Hydrocephalus after Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: A Case Report

Low Pressure Hydrocephalus (LPH) is rare after ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VP).In our study, a reported 43-year-old woman had mental disorder and asthenia of limbs for 10 years after VP.Cranial CT suggested ventricle enlargement but smaller prepontine cistern and IV ventricle (Figure 1).The symptoms were not improved obviously after lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage, shunt resetting, replacement of low pressure pump for shunt and other measures.LPH was considered to be induced by sinking brain.Following continuous providing of a low-pressure pump shunt, the patient was changed to the Trendelenburg position (the head-down position) to reverse the sinking brain.The patient recovered consciousness finally, and ventricle was reduced to a normal size.The present case report highlights that the rare complication of LPH caused by sinking brain may occur after VP, and the effective method of treatment is provided accordingly.