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Introduction Evaluation of shunt for malfunction and blockage is a common neurosurgical clinical scenario in day-to-day paediatric neurosurgery practice. Parental concern for shunt malfunction is normally considered a reliable indication for undertaking further assessment of a child with a shunt. Accuracy of parental diagnosis of shunt malfunction likely is dependent on combination of parental knowledge and patient symptomatology and familiarity of symptoms in relation to previous shunt malfunction symptoms. There are currently no UK studies on accuracy of parental diagnosis of shunt malfunction. We undertook this study to investigate sensitivity and specificity of parental diagnosis in our tertiary paediatric neurosurgical unit to identify any factors that can be used for further education and raising awareness in parents with children with shunts. Methods We undertook a review of all referrals with suspected shunt malfunction to our tertiary paediatric neurosurgical unit over a period of 10 months. All referrals and presentations were evaluated for parental concern for likelihood of shunt malfunction and marked as yes or no. Further information gathered included demographics, age, sex, symptoms at presentation, previous history of shunt revision, cases of shunt malfunction and part of the shunt revised. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy were then calculated and factors associated with positive diagnosis of shunt malfunction analysed. Results Overall, 100 referrals with suspected shunt malfunction were made over 10 months period. Mean age for children at the time of referral was 6.3 years with an M/F ratio of 42M:58F. Twenty-one shunt malfunction cases were identified leading to overall revision rate of 21%. Parental evaluation of shunt function had sensitivity of 90.4%, specificity of 10.1%, positive predictive value of 21.1% and negative predictive value of 80%. Drowsiness and higher number of symptoms at presentation were associated with true positive diagnosis of shunt malfunction. No link was identified with true diagnosis of shunt malfunction with other symptoms of shunt malfunction or previous history of shunt revision and age of the patient. Conclusion Parental diagnosis of shunt malfunction has high sensitivity and negative predictive value and low specificity and positive predictive value. Increased number of symptoms as well as drowsiness were associated with correct parental diagnosis of shunt malfunction. Educational programs and parental training can be valuable in increasing awareness about shunt malfunction signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Patients with a background of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-diverting shunts are frequently investigated for shunt malfunction when presenting with seizures. However, there is very limited evidence in the literature regarding the association of seizures and shunt malfunction. We sought to determine the incidence of shunt malfunction in our cohort of shunted paediatric patients presenting with seizures, and the utility of seizures as a marker of shunt malfunction. Methods: We retrospectively identified all shunted patients presenting with seizures, as well as all patients undergoing shunt revision following a presentation with seizures from our hospital database over a 14-year period from 2009 to 2023. Data gathered included demographics, de novo seizures or change in pattern of seizures, the aetiology of hydrocephalus and the segment of shunt requiring revision. Exclusion criteria included infected cases requiring shunt externalisation. A literature review of all papers discussing seizures as a presentation of shunt malfunction was also carried out. Results: Overall, over a 14-year period of study, 338 shunted patients presented with seizures and were referred as suspected shunt malfunction with 10 having confirmed shunt malfunction requiring revision (2.9%). This group represented 6.2% of 161 cases of shunt revision carried out during the 14-year period of study. Post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus secondary to prematurity was the commonest aetiology of shunted hydrocephalus presenting with seizures. Out of 10 patients presenting with seizures with shunt malfunction, 4 presented with de novo seizures, while 6 presented with a change in seizure pattern or frequency in already known epileptic patients. Shunt revision surgeries included 5 distal catheter, 2 proximal catheter, 1 proximal catheter-valve, 1 valve only and 1 case of whole shunt change. Conclusion: Our data supports that seizures are rare manifestation of shunt malfunction and can present either de novo or with a change in seizure frequency in already-known epileptic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Chyloperitoneum is an extremely rare finding following myelomeningocele (MMC) repair in neonates. We aimed to describe the characteristics of such a case and explore its clinical significance. Case report: A male baby born at term with open MMC and hydrocephalus underwent MMC repair surgery with rotational flaps on the first postnatal day. The procedure was uneventful. Three days later, he underwent a right ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) insertion. On opening the peritoneum, a remarkable amount of yellowish opaque fluid was observed. Chyloperitoneum was suspected, but the VPS procedure was completed as planned. Biochemical analysis was consistent with that of chyle. Discussion: Neonatal chylous ascites is a rare condition; hence, available data on pathophysiology and therapy in the literature are scarce. It is postulated that the MMC repair in neonates causes abdominal tautness, which leads to rupture of small lymphatics and raised intraportal pressure. The combination of these two processes results in extravasation of chyle from the gastrointestinal tract. Presence of chyloperitoneum is not a contraindication for VPS insertion. Conclusion: Chyloperitoneum is an extremely rare sequela of MMC repair in neonates. Pediatric neurosurgeons should be aware of it, especially when a VPS procedure is to follow a repair, in order to know how to deal with it and avoid unnecessary abandonment of the shunt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite adjuvant chemotherapy, between 20 and 50 % of patients with stage II/III colorectal cancer (CRC) will suffer recurrence, usually as incurable metastatic disease. Attempts to improve the efficacy of adjuvant regimens with addition of biologics have failed, and there is therefore a pressing need for novel therapeutic approaches. Inflammatory mediators, including the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme family, are commonly upregulated in CRC and known to promote tumour growth in preclinical models. COX inhibition by aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may exert an antineoplastic effect. Despite considerable evidence in CRC prevention and emerging data demonstrating that regular aspirin reduces the frequency of metastases following CRC resection, its use has not become widespread due to concerns regarding toxicities. However, the recent identification of biomarkers that may predict aspirin benefit has renewed interest in the field. Large, randomised controlled trials underway/in set-up should provide definitive evidence of the efficacy of aspirin/NSAIDs as adjuvant therapy in CRC. This review examines the field to date, with focus on the biomarkers which may help refine the risk-benefit ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]