Acute hydrocephalus was described following sudden complete obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathways.1 This is one of the many complications that have been reported with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.2 Rarely are these acutely lifethreatening. We report a case of acute hydrocephalus after sudden disconnection of a ventriculopertoneal shunt with subsequent death of the child. See Images in the PDF file CASE REPORT A 5-month-old male infant developed bacterial meningitis in February 1976. Two months later, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted for treatment of progressive communicating hydrocephalus. On a follow-up examination in October 1976, he was reported to be mildly delayed without other neurologic handicap.