syringoperitoneal

Syringoperitoneal refers to a shunt system used to treat syringomyelia by draining a syrinx, a fluid-filled cavity within the spinal cord, into the peritoneal cavity. In this approach, a catheter is placed into the syrinx and connected through subcutaneous tunnels to a distal catheter that ends in the peritoneal space. A valve or flow-regulating device may be included to control drainage and reduce the risk of overdrainage.

The goal of a syringoperitoneal shunt is to reduce the size of the syrinx and alleviate neurological symptoms caused by syrinx expansion, such as pain, weakness, sensory disturbance, and autonomic dysfunction. By diverting fluid from the spinal cord to the peritoneal cavity, the procedure aims to stabilize or improve neurological function when conservative management is insufficient or when other surgical options have not fully resolved the syrinx.

Indications for syringoperitoneal shunting typically include symptomatic syringomyelia that progresses despite nonoperative care or after other surgeries, such as posterior fossa decompression for Chiari malformation, have not produced durable syrinx reduction. It is considered one option among CSF diversion strategies for selected patients.

Complications and limitations include infection, catheter obstruction or disconnection, overdrainage with potential intracranial hypotension or subdural collections, and distal catheter issues such as migration or peritoneal pseudocysts. Outcomes are variable, with some patients experiencing radiographic and clinical improvement and others requiring revisions or alternative treatments.

See also: syringopleural shunt, syringosubarachnoid shunt, syringomyelia, Chiari malformation, ventriculoperitoneal shunt.