Abstract |
A simple imaging procedure has been devised for
patients with peritoneo-venous shunts when ascites
reaccumulates and a decision must be made on whether or
not to revise the shunt. We recently experienced a
patient with reaccumulated ascites in whom obstruction
of peritoneo-venous shunt was suspected. 5 mCi of
99mTc-phytate was injected into the peritoneal cavity
and imaging of the abdomen was performed 1~30 minutes
later. With a proper funtioning shunt, radioactivity in
the liver and spleen were easily identifiable in this
case. If the shunt is obstructed, tracer activity will
remain in the pediotoneal cavity and thus can not be
identifiable m the liver or spleen. Conclusively,
radionuclide methods might be very useful for
evaluation of peritoneo-venous shunt patency. |