Yaşar Türk1,2, İsmail Devecioğlu3, İshak Yıldızhan4, Barış Can Arslan4, Bilgin Kadri Arıbaş4. 1. Radiology Department, Medical Faculty, Bulent Ecevit University, İbni Sina Kampüsü, 67600, Esenköy-Kozlu, Zonguldak, Turkey. yturk@biruni.edu.tr. 2. Radiology Department, Medical Faculty, Biruni University Hospital, Beşyol Mahallesi Eski Londra Asfaltı No: 10 Küçükçekmece, Istanbul, Turkey. yturk@biruni.edu.tr. 3. Biomedical Engineering Department, Çorlu Engineering Faculty, Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, NKU Corlu Muhendislik Fakultesi, Silahtaraga Mh., Çorlu, Tekirdağ, Turkey. 4. Radiology Department, Medical Faculty, Bulent Ecevit University, İbni Sina Kampüsü, 67600, Esenköy-Kozlu, Zonguldak, Turkey.
Abstract
PURPOSE: No evidence exists to support the use of tunneled non-cuffed pigtail drainage catheters in patients with refractory ascites or pleural effusion. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of non-cuffed tunneled pigtail drainage catheters in patients with refractory ascites or pleural effusions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 5, 2020 and May 25, 2021, 34 pigtail catheters were implanted in 27 patients (17 males, 10 females; average age: 65.66 ± 12.04 years) under either ultrasound or computed-tomography guidance (19 catheters for ascites, 15 catheters for pleural effusion). Twenty-eight catheters (82.35%) were implanted for malignant etiologies, and 6 catheters (17.65%) were implanted for benign etiologies. The catheters (size: 8-14 French) were implanted through a subcutaneous tunnel. Complication rate and factors related to complications were analyzed. Catheter lifetime was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Patency ranged from 3 to 211 days. None of the patients experienced a major complication (e.g., peritonitis and empyema). Meanwhile, 8 minor complications were observed including 3 catheter occlusion, 3 ascites leakage, 1 peri-catheter local skin infection, 1 peri-catheter local skin reaction. None of the etiologies were related to the catheter complications. However, the 8-F catheter was associated with a significantly higher complication rate (odds = 5.5, p = 0.044). The estimated mean [CI] dwelling time of a catheter was 59.18 [32.97, 85.39] days. CONCLUSIONS: Image-guided insertion of tunneled peritoneal or pleural pigtail external drainage catheters achieved with a 100% technical success rate and resulted in an acceptable complication rate and catheter lifetime for the management of refractory ascites or pleural effusion.
PURPOSE: No evidence exists to support the use of tunneled non-cuffed pigtail drainage catheters in patients with refractory ascites or pleural effusion. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of non-cuffed tunneled pigtail drainage catheters in patients with refractory ascites or pleural effusions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 5, 2020 and May 25, 2021, 34 pigtail catheters were implanted in 27 patients (17 males, 10 females; average age: 65.66 ± 12.04 years) under either ultrasound or computed-tomography guidance (19 catheters for ascites, 15 catheters for pleural effusion). Twenty-eight catheters (82.35%) were implanted for malignant etiologies, and 6 catheters (17.65%) were implanted for benign etiologies. The catheters (size: 8-14 French) were implanted through a subcutaneous tunnel. Complication rate and factors related to complications were analyzed. Catheter lifetime was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Patency ranged from 3 to 211 days. None of the patients experienced a major complication (e.g., peritonitis and empyema). Meanwhile, 8 minor complications were observed including 3 catheter occlusion, 3 ascites leakage, 1 peri-catheter local skin infection, 1 peri-catheter local skin reaction. None of the etiologies were related to the catheter complications. However, the 8-F catheter was associated with a significantly higher complication rate (odds = 5.5, p = 0.044). The estimated mean [CI] dwelling time of a catheter was 59.18 [32.97, 85.39] days. CONCLUSIONS: Image-guided insertion of tunneled peritoneal or pleural pigtail external drainage catheters achieved with a 100% technical success rate and resulted in an acceptable complication rate and catheter lifetime for the management of refractory ascites or pleural effusion.