Laparoscopic bariatric surgery in a patient with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and lumboperitoneal shunt: Anesthetic implications

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) typically affects obese young women. Treatment is mainly medical, but some cases require surgery; ventriculoperitoneal (VPS) or lumboperitoneal shunts (LPS) being the most common procedures. Although bariatric surgery is not the first-line surgical treatment, it can be useful in refractory cases and allows treating the major underlying risk factor and its comorbidities. Laparoscopic bariatric surgery is the gold standard; however, literature in patients with shunts is scarce. In the present study, we report the case of a morbidly obese female with IIH treated with an LPS and with refractory headache, scheduled for laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. LPS position was checked before surgery (abdominal X-ray) and during pneumoperitoneum was clamped. Anesthetic management was guided to minimize increases in intracranial pressure (ICP). Surgery and anesthesia were uneventful. Three months later, headaches disappeared and analgesics were discontinued. In conclusion, laparoscopic bariatric surgery may be an option for IIH. It is safe in patients with LPS, although concerns should be taken into account (avoid any damage to the shunt, limit digestive tract contents spillage, and strict vigilance for early detection of intracranial hypertension signs). Although valve system could prevent pressure complications, the catheter can be clamped to avoid retrograde insufflation of CO(2) or digestive tract content.