Laparoscopic cecal cancer resection in a patient with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt: A case report

INTRODUCTIONThe presence of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt has been considered to be a contraindication for laparoscopic surgery till date; however, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was recently reported as safe for patients with this shunt.PRESENTATION OF CASEWe present the first case, to the best of our knowledge, of laparoscopic colectomy for cecal cancer in a patient with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. A 59-year-old woman with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus was referred to our hospital with cecal cancer. Laparoscopic cecal cancer resection was performed successfully and uneventfully by manipulating the shunt.DISCUSSIONClamping of the shunt catheter at the subcutaneous region was performed before insufflation of carbon dioxide to prevent adverse effects from the pneumoperitoneum.CONCLUSIONWe believe that laparoscopic colectomy for colon cancer can be performed safely in patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt by optimal manipulation of the shunt.