VP vs LP Shunt Kits: The Components Compared

VP vs LP shunt kits compared part by part: what the two share, how the proximal catheter and placement tools differ, and how DESU order codes show it.

VP and LP shunt kits share a valve and a 120 cm peritoneal catheter. They differ at the proximal end. A Depus VP kit adds a 23 cm ventricular catheter, a stylet and a right-angled connector. A Depus LP kit adds a lumbar catheter, a 14 G Tuohy needle and a 0.018” guidewire. Both belong to DESU's shunt systems.

Key takeaways

• VP and LP kits share the valve and the peritoneal catheter; the proximal end of the system is what differs.
• The Depus VP kit adds a 23 cm ventricular catheter, stylet and right-angled connector.
• The Depus LP kit adds a lumbar catheter, 14 G Tuohy needle and 0.018” guidewire.
• VP kits come with Defit, Decurve and Depus valves; DESU LP shunt kits use Depus valves.

How do VP and LP kits compare, part by part?

The clearest comparison is within the Depus family, because it is offered in both configurations with the same valve settings.

In the valve-free lumboperitoneal catheter kit, the lumbar catheter is 100 cm long with a 0.8 mm inner and 1.6 mm outer diameter, and the peritoneal catheter matches the one above. For a Depus LP kit, take the catheter data from its label or instructions for use.

What do the two kits have in common?

Both kits do the same basic job: they take CSF from where it collects, pass it through a valve and deliver it to the peritoneal cavity. So the middle and the end of the system are alike. The valve is the same polysulfone design with a ruby ball and titanium spring, and the distal catheter ends in the same place.

The options are alike too. The antisiphon device and the reservoir can be added to either configuration, and both are offered with standard or antibiotic-impregnated catheters. In antibiotic-impregnated catheters, the antibiotic is impregnated into the material and released in a controlled manner over 28 days.

Why is the proximal catheter different?

A VP shunt draws CSF from a cerebral ventricle, reached through a burr hole. An LP shunt draws it from the lumbar subarachnoid space, in the lower spine. The two routes call for different catheters.

The DESU ventricular catheter is 23 cm long with tantalum length marks from 5 to 15 cm. The DESU lumbar catheter in the catheter kits is longer and thinner, at 100 cm with an outer diameter of 1.6 mm against 2.5 mm, and its tantalum marks run from 5 to 20 cm. Both are silicone, and both have 24 drainage holes in four rows of six at the proximal end.

Why are the placement tools different?

The placement tools follow from the route. Silicone is soft, and a catheter that is going to be implanted needs help getting to where it is meant to be.

• Stylet (VP kit): supports guided, controlled advancement of the ventricular catheter during implantation.
• Right-angled connector (VP kit): helps orient the ventricular catheter at an appropriate angle and forms the catheter-to-valve connection.
• 14 G Tuohy needle (LP kit): supports creation of the insertion path for the lumbar catheter.
• Guidewire (LP kit): helps place and guide the lumbar catheter in a controlled way.

This is the part of the comparison that changes tray preparation most. A team that is used to VP cases will find no stylet in an LP kit, and a needle and guidewire in its place. Technique for either route belongs to the surgeon and the instructions for use.

Which valves can you order in each kit?

VP kits are the wider range. DESU offers them with Defit flat-bottom silicone valves in Ultra Small, Small and Regular sizes, Decurve burr-hole silicone valves in paediatric and adult sizes, fixed-pressure Depus valves and adjustable Depus valves.

DESU offers LP shunt kits in the Depus family only, in low, medium and high fixed settings. The adjustable Depus kits are ventriculoperitoneal systems.

How do the order codes show the difference?

The code tells you the route before you open the box. These are the low-pressure Depus examples; medium and high follow the same pattern with M and H.

What should a buyer check when stocking both?

• Treat the two as separate items. They contain different catheters and placement components, so one does not substitute for the other.
• Check whether a fixation part is needed. The valve-free lumboperitoneal catheter kit includes one; for a Depus LP kit, a DESU product specialist can confirm this for your order.
• Decide whether valve-free catheter kits are also needed for replacement or for surgeon preference.
• Ask for the instructions for use for each configuration, because their steps differ.

For a full list of what each kit holds, see the VP shunt kit component checklist and the guide to lumbar shunt catheter kits. Which route suits a patient is a clinical decision for the surgeon and is not settled by the kit list.

Talk to a DESU product specialist

To confirm the contents of a VP or LP configuration, or to line up codes for a tender, write to sales@desu.tr, use the contact page or request a quote.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a Defit or Decurve valve in a DESU LP shunt kit?

DESU LP shunt kits are offered in the Depus family only. Talk to a DESU product specialist about any other configuration.

Is the antisiphon device available in both kits?

Yes. The antisiphon device and reservoir are optional additions to Depus VP kits and to Depus LP kits.

How are the shunt kits sterilised?

Depus shunt systems are sterilised with EO. Confirm the details for your specific code on the product label.

Can I order the catheters without a valve?

Yes. DESU offers a ventriculoperitoneal catheter kit and a lumboperitoneal catheter kit, which supply the catheters and their accessories without a valve.

Related standards

• ISO 7197: Neurosurgical implants — Sterile, single-use hydrocephalus shunts and components
• ISO 11135: Sterilization of health-care products — Ethylene oxide
• ISO 13485: Medical devices — Quality management systems