ABSTRACT
An 11-year-old boy with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is brought in by his mother with a complaint of vomiting and abdominal pain for the past 3 days. The vomitus is non-bilious and non-bloody. He has been unable to tolerate food or fluid well, and the mother notes some decreased urine output. He has been acting normally but does complain of a headache. The mother also notes mild scalp swelling at the site of the shunt insertion. His past medical history is significant for a history of prematurity born at 27 weeks gestational age and obstructive hydrocephalus, which required placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt at 4 weeks of age. He had one shunt revision 3 years ago for a shunt malfunction which presented with complaint of headache.
