Search

Introduction: Totally implantable venous access devices (TIVADs) offer significant advantages for long-term intravenous therapy, but their use is not without potential complications. Catheter migration is one of them. Case presentation: An 11-year-old boy with a primitive neuro-ectodermal tumor (PNET) undergoing chemotherapy was a candidate for a TIVAD placement. A TIVAD was implanted through the right internal jugular vein and secured to the pectoralis major in a right thoracic subcutaneous pouch without complications. Approximately six months later, port malfunction was noticed. Physical examination revealed that the port was no longer palpable, and a chest X-ray confirmed that the port was displaced. Subsequent chest X-rays showed different locations of the port and the catheter. With the hypothesis that the port had entered the pleural space and was moving freely, we did an exploratory thoracoscopy. We confirmed the intrapleural position of the port and catheter and removed both without complications. The patient was discharged four days later. Conclusion: Although rare, TIVADs can migrate from the chest wall into the pleural cavity. Frequent evaluation of their function and position is critical for the early detection of complications.

Background: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is the most commonly performed procedure in the treatment of hydrocephalus in children. Shunt migration outside the peritoneal cavity is quite rare. This study describes one case of clear migration to the Fallopian tube and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) discharge from the vagina. Case description: A five-year-old female patient with VPS was admitted to the hospital with a 40-day history of abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever. She was in Glasgow Coma Scale 15, and she presented CSF discharge from the vagina. Abdominal ultrasonography and tomography showed a heterogeneous cyst involving the distal tip of the catheter close to the Fallopian tube. The patient underwent laparotomy with the aid of pediatric surgeons, which confirmed that the end of the distal catheter was present inside the right Fallopian tube. The catheter was repositioned in the peritoneal cavity without intercurrences. CSF examination showed absence of infection and negative culture. The patient was discharged from the hospital cured without requiring antibiotics. Conclusion: Abdominal complications involving the distal VPS catheter are frequently reported in the literature; distal catheter migration to the Fallopian tube with CSF discharge from the vagina, however, is a very rare presentation. Surgical repair, with a multidisciplinary team, to reposition the distal catheter in the peritoneal cavity was sufficient for adequate treatment of this patient.

Background: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting is a common neurosurgical procedure to treat hydrocephalus that diverts cerebrospinal fluid from the cerebral ventricles to the peritoneal cavity for reabsorption. The distal catheter may potentially migrate through any potential or iatrogenic opening in the peritoneal cavity. Increasingly successfully management of childhood hydrocephalus and adult-onset conditions leading to hydrocephalus, such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, is leading many adult female patients harboring VP shunts needing to undergo hysterectomy. Hysterectomy creates a potential defect though which a VP shunt catheter may migrate. It is not known whether the hysterectomy cuff closure technique may affect the likelihood of distal catheter migration though the repair site., Case Description: We report the case of a 38-year-old woman with a VP shunt who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy via an open vaginal cuff technique who subsequently presented with vaginal cerebrospinal fluid leakage secondary to migration of the distal shunt catheter through the hysterectomy cuff., Conclusions: Vaginal migration of the distal VP shunt catheter is a possible complication of hysterectomy. The authors postulate that an open cuff hysterectomy closure technique may increase the risk of catheter migration, an issue that may be better understood with further investigation., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Targeting the dorsal column, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) serves as a treatment method for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Certain anatomical pain distributions are difficult to treat with traditional SCS, including the distal extremities. We present a case where stimulation of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) was performed to treat CRPS in the distal upper extremity., Case Report: A 43-year-old female underwent a right elbow arthroscopy with open reduction and internal fixation after sustaining a radial head fracture. Several months after her surgery, she experienced hyperesthesia, skin color changes, decreased range of motion, weakness distal to the right olecranon, and was diagnosed with CRPS. Aggressive physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and neuropathic agents provided mild relief. Open capsular release, hardware removal, and chondral debridement of the elbow did not provide alleviation. A diagnostic stellate ganglion block provided complete relief for two weeks. A therapeutic block allowed one day of relief, followed by recurrence of her symptoms. She underwent an SCS trial for treatment. Scar tissue in the posterior epidural space prevented catheter advancement, causing it to exit the C6 foramen. Incidental stimulation of the DRG occurred., Results: On follow-up, patient reported >70% relief of her pain. On the visual analog scale, her maximal pain decreased from 8/10 to 4/10, with resolution of her initial symptoms and ability to perform all of her activities of daily living., Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the only reported case of utilizing DRG stimulation for CRPS of the distal upper extremity. Neuromodulation of the DRG appears to be an effective option for targeting painful areas in CRPS., (© 2015 International Neuromodulation Society.)