Using laparoscopy for ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement

Researchers conducted a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial to compare a laparoscopic procedure with a mini-laparotomy for insertion of a peritoneal catheter during ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery. The deciding factor was the rate of shunt malfunction. Although overall shunt failure rates did not differ substantially between patients in the two surgery groups, the authors identified a significant reduction in the rate of distal shunt failure in patients in whom laparoscopy was used.
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - Category: Science Source Type: news