{"id":"b5f3eeac-bbca-4742-aab6-dc7308fe38a4","slug":"co-presentation-of-a-subdural-empyema-and-an-infected-ventriculoperitoneal-shunt-in-an-adult-patient-a-rare-complication-with-review-of-literature","title":"Co-presentation of a subdural empyema and an infected ventriculoperitoneal shunt in an adult patient: A rare complication with review of literature","authors":["Ha Son Nguyen","Ninh Doan","Saman Shabani","Michael Gelsomino","Wade Mueller"],"abstract":"Background: The occurrence of a subdural empyema as a complication of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infection is rare. Only three articles have been published on this topic. Moreover, the available literature only involves pediatric patients. Case Description: The authors present a 38-year-old male with a preexisting right frontal subdural hygroma that developed into a subdural empyema in the presence of an infected right occipital VP shunt. A brief literature review is provided, and the pathogenesis is discussed. Conclusion: This is the first known report regarding an adult patient with a subdural empyema and a VP shunt infection. Although a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain is not typically ordered during diagnosis of a shunt infection, the authors advocate a low threshold to employ MRI brain to evaluate for other sources of infection, especially in an immunocompromised patient or in a patient with a history of a subdural hematoma or hygroma that can be easily overlook as being stable on computed tomography of head.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/b5f3eeac-bbca-4742-aab6-dc7308fe38a4/featured/hero-1782420812739.png","publishDate":"2015-10-07T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.4103/2152-7806.166785","categories":["Unique Case Observations","Case Report"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/b5f3eeac-bbca-4742-aab6-dc7308fe38a4/pdf"}