Predictors and causes of 30-day failure after shunt placement in pediatric hydrocephalus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

backgroundVentriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting is the most common long-term treatment for pediatric hydrocephalus; however, early shunt failure remains a significant cause of morbidity and economic burden. Although individual studies have investigated risk factors for early failure, findings are fragmented and inconsistent. This meta-analysis evaluates the prevalence, predictors, and causes of 30-day VP shunt failure in pediatric patients.

methodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, databases were searched through November 2025 for studies reporting 30-day VP shunt failure in pediatric cohorts. Randomized controlled trials, prospective, and retrospective studies were included. Random-effects models were used, with risk ratios (RR) calculated for dichotomous outcomes and pooled prevalence estimated using generalized linear mixed models.

resultsOur analysis included 11,596 pediatric patients, with one randomized trial and 8 observational studies. The pooled prevalence of 30-day shunt failure was 13.8% (95% CI 11.2-16.8), with significantly lower rates following primary compared with secondary shunt insertion (12.6% vs 18.0%). A separate comparative analysis confirmed this reduced risk of early failure after primary insertion (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.49-0.69; p < 0.001). When pooled female sex was associated with decreased risk of early failure, while no hydrocephalus etiology demonstrated a significant effect. Poor ventricular catheter placement was the only modifiable predictor associated with increased risk of early failure from the pooled analyses (RR 1.64, 95% CI 1.08-2.50; p = 0.02); however, this association was based on only two studies and lost significance in leave-one-out analyses. Cause-specific failure mechanisms were poorly reported across studies. Among studies reporting these outcomes, proximal catheter obstruction and malposition were the most frequently reported mechanisms of early shunt failure, followed by shunt infection. Several additional predictors were significant in individual studies and were qualitatively reported, but could not be pooled due to heterogeneous reporting.

conclusionVP shunt failure affects approximately one in eight pediatric patients in the first 30 days following placement, and occurs significantly more frequently following secondary shunt insertion. Among the pooled predictors, ventricular catheter placement quality represents the most significant modifiable factor associated with early shunt survival, although this finding was based on limited data. Several predictors showed estimates suggestive of increased risk; however, prospective studies with standardized reporting are necessary to define the size of these associations. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD420261305777.