C. Cedzich et al., LETHAL SEPTICEMIA CAUSED BY CALCIFIED CAVO-TRICUSPID THROMBUS - CASE-REPORT ON A PATIENT WITH ATRIAL SHUNT, Neurosurgical review, 16(3), 1993, pp. 237-239
With the introduction of one way calibrated shunt systems, made of sil
icon rubber, an efficient treatment of hydrocephalus seemed to be poss
ible. The mortality rate decreased rapidly for example for non-communi
cating hydrocephalus from 80 to 20% [3]. However, other complications
appeared, such as shunt infections, shunt malfunctions and even severe
thromboembolic complications and septic shock. This report presents o
ne patient with shunt-treated normal pressure hydrocephalus who develo
ped pulmonary emboli, mural calcified atrial thrombus with involvement
of the tricuspid valve and shunt infection with lethal septic shock.
Despite of an aggressive treatment, he died of multiple organ system f
ailure.