No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery
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Shunt dysfunction due to an obstructed ventricular catheter can be avoided, at least in part, by placing the of the catheter anteriorly to the Foramen of Monro. However, once the catheter is obstructed, surgical removal under general anesthesia is almost inevitable. Irrigation method for an obstructed ventricular catheter enables us to gain scarcely anything and accumulation of instilled fluid in the ventricle often causes the dangerously increased intracranial pressure. 1) Technique for placement of the ventricular catheter. ⋯ Percutaneous technique was successful in releasing the obstructions in 12 times of these 8 patients and remaining 2 patients were subsequently operated upon for the following reasons. One patient, because of dislodging of the reservoir cap after successful release of obstruction and the other, due to extraventricular location of the tip of the catheter prior to the percutaneous management. No serious complications has been encountered and the technique was proved to be safe and simple ensuring good functional return of the shunt in long-term follow-up.