Gallbladder V’s Shunt

[sammm2k]

Hi all, hope everyone keeping well. I was just wondering if anybody has knowledge on having laparoscopic cholecystectomy whilst having vp shunt?

I have had a telephone consultation & agree my gallbladder needs removing due to a large polyp. The consultant advised due to the shunt he needs to discuss with the Neurosurgeon before the procedure can go ahead.

I would just like to here if anybody has had this procedure even though they have a shunt & if their recovery was ok?

Thanks all

Sam x

[cat3]

Sorry I can't help Sam but just wanted to assure you of the relative simplicity of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. I was admitted and discharged on the same day ; no stitches necessary, just adhesive, on the small incision and minimal discomfort afterwards.

I hope your neurosurgeon will be able to give your op the go ahead so you can be symptom free. I know what dreadful pain gall bladder issues can cause.

Best wishes in getting this resolved m'love..... Cat x

[Merl1n]

Hey Sam,

I too have a VP shunt. I have not had a cholecystectomy, but I have required a laparoscopic procedure. The initial shunt fractured (broke) and the bottom 1/2 was sitting in the bottom of my abdomen, with the top 1/2 still in the ventricles. The Dr decided just to replace the distal end of the shunt and left the broken piece floating around in my abdomen. Eventually, those broken bits started causing issues and they decided to go fishing to get them out.

But, prior to the surgery the gastro dr's needed to consult the neuro's to be sure that what they were to be removing wasn't the functioning shunt and that the functioning shunt was not disturbed. The very last thing I wanted or needed was further neurosurgery due to another surgical procedure.

Hope it helps

Merl1n

[transverse-sigmoid in reply to Merl1n]

Oh my- why did the doctor leave part of the tube floating around there if it was already useless? And could u please tell me what kind of problems it started to cause? I am dealing with some myself. Thanks so much!

[sammm2k in reply to transverse-sigmoid]

Hi transverse, what kind of problems are you experiencing & do you think they could be shunt related?

Sam

[sammm2k in reply to Merl1n]

That’s a great help, thanks Mer1n. Like Transverse below I’m also wondering what problem you encountered. I think pain is because of shunt. My gallbladder needs removing due to a large polyp which was found during ultrasound scan to assess pain in right upper quadrant (took that from Dr’s note) lol.

I was told the polyp would not cause such pain but needs removing due to size.

I think the shunt is the problem as this pain started in re-hab, comes & goes but getting more frequent & more painful?

Thanks for your reply.

Sam

[Merl1n in reply to sammm2k]

Hey Samm and Transverse,

The issue was that the broken shunt tubing was digging into my insides, it wasn't constant pain but when it came, ohh, it came with vengeance. At times it would drop me to my knees. Just WOW!!! Intense.

Why did they leave it? Because it was the lower shunt tubing that broke, below the valve, it had migrated (sunk) and was in my peritoneal cavity. That's not neuro territory, that's gastro. So I had to wait and see a gastric surgeon, that is despite the neuro's putting both the new and the old tubing in there in the first place. Another part of the 'why did they leave it?' some people who have a shunt fracture have no issues with the tubing remaining internally, but then some people do have issues. It seems I'm one of the few who do have issues. The shunt tubing in the brain is still in there too, so now I have 2 pieces of tubing in the brain. One working and one broken. They 'could' remove the non-functioning brain catheter BUT there is a risk in doing so as the void remaining could fill with blood and be at a higher risk of stroke.

There are some scans they can do to check the entire shunt train to see that it's all working properly. It's called a shuntogram. Also an ultrasound scan can sometimes pick up 'adhesions', where the tubing can sometimes stick to an organ or surrounding tissues and when we move it pulls, causing pain. Also a CT or MRI with (and without) contrast may show any other 'odd' things in that region.

I would STRONGLY recommend you investigate every other option before going down the shunt or neurosurgical route. I have had the JOY (NOT) of enduring a few neurosurgeries and each one has hit me harder and harder. If you can in any way avoid that I would STRONGLY recommend it.

Merl1n