Delayed external ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection.

Infection is a common complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. About 10% of shunt infections are found more than one year after operation. We recently treated two children with what appears to be a unique manifestation of late shunt infection: chronic, draining sinuses along the course of the shunt tubing. Neither child had a shunt malfunction or a CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) infection. The infections were external and responded to removal of the infected shunt system. These cases are described, and delayed and external shunt infections are discussed.