# Pleural and peritoneal shunts (Denver shunts, ACES)

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/pleural-and-peritoneal-shunts/  
OnCo record `pleural-and-peritoneal-shunts` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Tubes placed fully under the skin that move fluid from the chest or abdomen to somewhere the body can absorb it, so there is no drain to empty.

## Summary

Shunts are FDA product code KPM (shunt, peritoneal). Denver Biomedical's pleural effusion shunt with external pump chamber (K011020, 1 June 2001) and ascites shunt with percutaneous access kit (K011862, 12 July 2001) are in the database. Pleural Dynamics' Automatic Continuous Effusion Shunt (ACES) system (K231096, 18 August 2023) is indicated for adults over 21 with chylothorax or "intractable aseptic pleural effusion".

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: established
- Last checked: 2026-11-04
- Also known as: Pleuroperitoneal shunt; Peritoneovenous shunt; Denver shunt; ACES; Automatic Continuous Effusion Shunt
- Tags: devices-gaps-2026-11
- Principle: A one-way valved catheter carries fluid from the pleural or peritoneal cavity to the peritoneum or a central vein, moved by a manual pump chamber or by pressure differences.
- Since: 2001
- Strengths: No external drain; No bottles or home drainage visits
- Limitations: Blockage of the shunt; Not suitable for infected effusions

## Sources

- FDA product code KPM: peritoneal shunt: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfPCD/classification.cfm?ID=KPM
- FDA 510(k) K011020: Denver pleural effusion shunt (1 June 2001): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K011020
- FDA 510(k) K011862: Denver ascites shunt (12 July 2001): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K011862
- FDA 510(k) K231096: ACES system (18 August 2023): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K231096

## Connected records

- fronts: [Devices & Physical Therapies](https://onco.cc/fronts/devices/), [Supportive Care & Survivorship](https://onco.cc/fronts/supportive-care/)
- technologies: [Early integrated palliative care](https://onco.cc/technologies/palliative-care/), [Indwelling peritoneal catheters for malignant ascites (PeritX, Rocket, Aspira, Passio)](https://onco.cc/technologies/indwelling-peritoneal-catheters/), [Indwelling pleural catheters for malignant pleural effusion (PleurX, Rocket, Aspira, Passio)](https://onco.cc/technologies/indwelling-pleural-catheters/)
- terms: [Malignant pleural effusion](https://onco.cc/terms/malignant-pleural-effusion/), [Malignant pleural effusion and ascites](https://onco.cc/terms/pleural-effusion/)

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