Retroperitoneal Migration And Transgluteal Extrusion of a Distal Lumboperitoneal Shunt Catheter: An Unusual Complication of Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt

Cerebrospinal fluid shunts provide many and different complications. Only 1-3% of them are rare, related to migration, and perforation of hollow organs. Even more unusual are the complications associated with the distal catheter leaving the peritoneal cavity and the tip migrating through some of the anatomical foramens to the muscle layers on the back. We present a rare complication, migration of the distal lumboperitoneal shunt catheter through the retroperitoneum and the gluteal muscles to the hypoderma. The peritoneal catheter entered the retroperitoneal area, passed through the greater sciatic foramen below the piriformis, and through the gluteal muscles, before it reached the hypodermal area. Despite the continuous improvement of the material of flexible silicone catheters, injuries of hollow organs with subsequent migration to unusual areas still occur. Our case is the only one that has been reported, in which the catheter made its way through the retroperitoneum and the gluteal muscles.