CASE REPORT   

Minerva Chirurgica 1999 November;54(11):809-12

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Sclerosing peritonitis (abdominal cocoon syndrome). A complication of the LeVeen peritoneo-venous shunt

Cudazzo E., Lucchini A., Puviani P. P., Dondi D., Binacchi S., Bianchi M., Franzini M.

Sclerosing peritonitis (abdominal cocoon syndrome) is a rare chronic affection of the peritoneum; its etiology is multifactorial and it affects all ages. Capsulating membranes seem to grow from a poorly cellular connective deposition in many layers on the intestinal peritoneum and are casually detected by surgery or autopsy. The placement of the peritoneo-venous shunt can favour the deposition of fibrin on the visceral peritoneum, determining the formation of sclerosing membranes. When mechanical occlusion occurs, surgery is the choice therapy in order to remove the obstacle and, if possible, the membranes as well.