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Tunneled Uncuffed Pigtail Drainage Catheter Placement in Patients with Refractory Ascites or Pleural Effusion: A Single-Center Experience

  • Technical Note
  • Non-Vascular Interventions
  • Published:
CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

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Funding

The study had no financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiology Department, Medical Faculty, Bulent Ecevit University, İbni Sina Kampüsü, 67600, Esenköy-Kozlu, Zonguldak, Turkey

    Yaşar Türk, İshak Yıldızhan, Barış Can Arslan & Bilgin Kadri Arıbaş

  2. Biomedical Engineering Department, Çorlu Engineering Faculty, Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, NKU Corlu Muhendislik Fakultesi, Silahtaraga Mh., Çorlu, Tekirdağ, Turkey

    İsmail Devecioğlu

  3. Radiology Department, Medical Faculty, Biruni University Hospital, Beşyol Mahallesi Eski Londra Asfaltı No: 10 Küçükçekmece, Istanbul, Turkey

    Yaşar Türk

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  1. Yaşar Türk
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  2. İsmail Devecioğlu
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  3. İshak Yıldızhan
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  4. Barış Can Arslan
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  5. Bilgin Kadri Arıbaş
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Correspondence to Yaşar Türk.

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Türk, Y., Devecioğlu, İ., Yıldızhan, İ. et al. Tunneled Uncuffed Pigtail Drainage Catheter Placement in Patients with Refractory Ascites or Pleural Effusion: A Single-Center Experience. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 45, 1735–1741 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-022-03248-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-022-03248-2

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