Modified Surgical Drain-Guided Percutaneous Catheter Drainage of Postoperative Fluid Collection in Inaccessible Locations

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility and safety of a modified surgical drain-guided percutaneous catheter drainage technique for postoperative fluid collection in inaccessible locations.

Materials and methods: The modified technique was used in 24 patients (age, 58.6 years ± 11.3; men, 58.3%) from September 2015 to March 2021. All fluid collections had no safe access route on preprocedural computed tomography (CT) images. Every patient had a long (>20 cm) and tortuous surgical drain, which prevented the use of conventional surgical drain exchange. A favorable midpoint of the surgical drain tract was punctured under either ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance, and a guide wire was advanced into the fluid collection. Technical success was defined as the successful placement of a drainage catheter, and clinical success was defined as the complete evacuation of fluid collection without recurrence. Follow-up was performed using CT images and a chart review. Adverse events within 30 days of the procedure were evaluated.

Results: Target fluid collections in the pelvic cavity (n = 9); subphrenic (n = 7), peripancreatic (n = 4), and subhepatic spaces (n = 3); and abdominal cavity (n = 1) were drained using catheters measuring 7-10.2 F in diameter and 25-30 cm in length. The technical success rate was 91.7% (22/24), and the clinical success rate was 90.9% (20/22). No procedure-related or catheter-related adverse events were observed. The median follow-up period was 8.2 months (range, 10-1,721 days).

Conclusions: The modified surgical drain-guided percutaneous catheter drainage technique is a useful alternative when conventional exchange techniques cannot be used because of long and tortuous surgical drain paths.