Damage to a Hakim valve Case report

JENS HAASE, M.D. Neurosurgical Department S, ..(rhus Municipal Hospital,/(rhus, Denmark v' A case is reported where a Hakim valve was displaced by daily checking of the valve function. KEY WORDS

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H a k i m valve

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shunt

ELIABILITYis one of the main features of the Hakim valve.* However, we we have seen a unique type of destruction in one of our patients. The parents of our patient noticed signs of obstruction in the atrial part of the shunt system, and so checked daily that the valve was functioning. By doing this, within 1 month they had pushed the distal part of the valve proximally as seen in Fig. 1. At operation the valve was seen to be functioning, but the distal part could be pushed up and down within the silicone tube. The valve was replaced and the child is doing well. R

*The Hakim valve is manufactured by Cordis Corporation, Post Office Box 428, Miami, Florida 33137. Address reprint requests to: Jens Haase, M.D., Neurosurgical Department S, Arhus Municipal Hospital, Arhus, Denmark. 522

FI~. 1. Hakim valve with distal part displaced. J. Neurosurg. / Volume 44 / April, 1976