PREGNANCY AND EXTRACRANIAL SHUNTS - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

This case involves a 32-year-old pregnant patient with a preexisting v entriculoperitoneal shunt. At term, she had a vaginal delivery with va cuum assistance, an epidural, and prophylactic antibiotics. Although t here are no controlled studies validating the best course of managemen t in such cases, there seems to be agreement that vaginal delivery can be attempted in the absence of other obstetrical indications for oper ative delivery. Obstruction of the shunt and, less commonly, abdominal cysts related to the distal end of the shunt are the principal obstet rical complications associated with a cerebrospinal shunt.