Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery is a lifesaving and commonly performed neurosurgical procedure—but on rare occasions, it can present with complications that challenge clinical intuition. This case highlights an exceptionally rare and alarming complication: complete transanal protrusion of a VP shunt catheter in a one-and-a-half-year-old child, occurring silently without peritonitis or meningitis.
The child presented only when the shunt was seen protruding during defecation—underscoring how bowel perforation can remain asymptomatic despite its potentially fatal consequences. The report explores: Mechanisms behind bowel perforation and shunt migration in children Why thin bowel walls and adhesions increase vulnerability Key red flags clinicians must not miss Evidence-based management strategies that can prevent catastrophic CNS infections This case is a powerful reminder that rare…