Abstract
A 72-year-old woman visited our hospital complaining of abdominal pain. She had previously been diagnosed as having idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus and underwent a lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt 27 days before the visit. Because an abdominal computed tomography showed acute appendicitis, we performed laparoscopic appendectomy without externalization or clamping of the shunt tube because it had the anti-reflux valve, in accordance with the advice of the neurosurgeon in charge. The maximum insufflation pressure was set at 8 mmHg. The postoperative course was uneventful without any neurological deficits including meningitis. She was discharged on the 4th postoperative day. When laparoscopic surgery is performed to the patient with a LP shunt where the shunt is kept intact, we have to pay the maximum attention to retrograde shunt infection. Appropriate selection of the patient would permit safe surgery. We report a successful case of laparoscopic appendectomy for the patient with a LP shunt.
