[jmw1975]

I'm 32. I've had a vp shunt since 3 mo. old. I've recently felt swelling at the end of my tube in my abdominal region. I mentioned this to my father and he had told me about having a sack that had formed at the end of the tube when I was 8. The fluid that was draining was draining into this sack. Does anyone know what causes this sack to form or why I may have swelling? This is the first time I have ever felt this that I can remember. I have had the tube relengthened twice, and had to have a whole new shunt put in in 1999. Since then I haven't had any problems. I'm just looking for possible reasons for the swelling.

Thanks.

[LIZARD]

What you're describing is called a pseudocyst, and it results when a fluid-filled sac forms because the catheter has slipped out of the peritoneal cavity. It will often push up against other organs. For reasons no one seems to know (or at least, that I have not found in over 15 years of research), there seems to be a greater chance of this if it has happened to you before. This is medically urgent, so please get in touch with your nsg right away.


Good luck!

LIZARD

[jadiee-x]

hi i recently went into surgery after an xray revealed my tube was out of the peritoneal cavity, i had no symptoms of this and was only found out due to a routine check as i had surgery 5 days beforehand to revise my shunt.

infact after finding out that the catheter had slipped out they were quite adement to admit me straight away, i was put into surgery about an hour after finding this out. although this surgery didnt work due to my scar tissue to permitting it to stay in the cavity due to multiple surgeries, i had this operation redone the next morning in another incision but is now fine.=]

so this really is something quite urgent, i suggest you get this checked out by another doctor perhaps if another isnt aware of the urgency and risks, i suppose the reassurance helps if everything is indeed fine but that 2nd opinion always helps =]

good luck =D