Removal of a Retained Fragment of a Ventriculo-Gallbladder Shunt in the Common Bile Duct

The ventriculo-gallbladder (VGB) shunt is employed rarely as an alternative to the ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. The VGB shunt is primarily used in place of the VP shunt when complications such as peritoneal infection, shunt contamination, shunt obstruction, or surgical adhesions limit the effectiveness of the VP shunt, or when contraindications to alternative forms of ventricular drainage exist. Retained foreign body in the common bile duct is another rare entity. Therefore, a retained distal portion of a remotely removed VGB shunt is an extremely rare finding. Here, we report the case of a retained metallic fragment of a VGB shunt leading to the formation of an obstructive bile calculus discovered in the common bile duct of a young woman presenting with cholangitis. A pertinent literature review is included.