Vacuum-Assisted Suction Drainage as a Successful Treatment Option for Postoperative Symptomatic Lymphoceles

Purpose Lymphoceles often occur within several weeks or even months after surgery. Mostly asymptomatic and therefore undiagnosed, they may be self-healing without any treatment. A small percentage of postoperative lymphoceles are symptomatic with significant pain, infection, or compression of vital structures, thus requiring intervention. Many different treatment options are described in the literature, like drainage with or without sclerotherapy, embolization of lymph vessels, and surgical approaches with laparoscopy or laparotomy. Inspired by reports stating that postoperative suction drainage can prevent the formation of lymphoceles, we developed a simple protocol for vacuum-assisted drainage of symptomatic lymphoceles, which proved to be successful and which we would therefore like to present. Materials and Method Between 2008 and 2020, 35 patients with symptomatic postoperative lymphoceles were treated with vacuum-assisted suction drainage (in total 39 lymphoceles). The surgery that caused lymphocele formation had been performed between 8 and 572 days before. All lymphoceles were diagnosed based on biochemical and cytologic findings in aspirated fluid. The clinical and imaging data were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Results In total, 43 suction drainage catheters were inserted under CT guidance. The technical success rate was 100 %. One patient died of severe preexisting pulmonary embolism, sepsis, and poor conditions (non-procedure-related death). In 94.8 % of symptomatic lymphoceles, healing and total disappearance could be achieved. 4 lymphoceles had a relapse or dislocation of the drainage catheter and needed a second drainage procedure. Two lymphoceles needed further surgery. The complication rate of the procedure was 4.6 % (2/43, minor complications). The median indwelling time of a suction drainage catheter was 8–9 days (range: 1–30 days). Conclusion The positive effects of negative pressure therapy in local wound therapy have been investigated for a long time. These positive effects also seem to have an impact on suction drainage of symptomatic lymphoceles with a high cure rate. Key Points: Citation Format

The Unusual Journey of a Pericardial Drainage Catheter in Pentalogy of Cantrell

A 4-month-old male infant diagnosed with Pentalogy of Cantrell presented to the cardiac catheterization laboratory with a large pericardial effusion. During an urgent pericardial drain placement, the patient, whose prior hemodynamics and clinical findings had suggested a noncritical cardiac lesion, had a profound desaturation, with echocardiography suggesting minimal or no flow across the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). The position of the drainage catheter on fluoroscopy and echocardiography suggested that the spell was being caused by obstruction of the main pulmonary artery (MPA) by the pericardial drain. After partially withdrawing the drain to reposition it, there was immediate resolution of the hypoxemia, and echocardiography once again showed adequate flow across the outflow tract.

Comparison of combined intraarticular (IA) and intravenous (IV) administration of tranexamic acid with IA and IV alone in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty without drainage catheter: a clinical trial study

Purpose we aim to determine the most effective route for TXA administration (among IA, IV, combined IA/IV) for TKA surgeries using tourniquet without drainage catheters Methods We performed a double-blinded clinical trial on a total of 147 TKA candidates. The amount of blood loss and hemoglobin drop were evaluated in three matched case groups administered TXA during the TKA either via IV, IA or IV plus IA route. Drainage catheter was used for none of the cases. Results The combined group showed an average blood loss of 630 ± 252 ml which was significantly lower than the IV group (878 ± 268 ml, P-value < 0.01) and the IA group (774 ± 288 ml, P-value = 0.03). Besides, the mean hemoglobin and hematocrit drop was significantly lower in the combined group compared to the other two groups, 48 and 72 hours postoperatively (P value < 0.05). Conclusions The TXA administration via IV plus IA route had 28% and 19% reduction of blood loss in comparison with using the TXA via IV alone and IA alone methods respectively. Therefore, given the surgery is performed with tourniquet application, TXA usage via IV plus IA route may be a more effective way for reducing the perioperative blood loss in TKA cases in patients undergoing TKA without drain placement.

Limited Clinical Utility of Chest Radiography in Asymptomatic Patients after Interventional Radiology-Performed Ultrasound-Guided Thoracentesis: Analysis of 3,022 Consecutive Patients

Purpose The aim of this study was to report the utility of chest radiography following interventional radiology-performed ultrasound-guided thoracentesis. Materials and Methods A total of 3,998 patients underwent thoracentesis between 2003 and 2018 at two institutions. A total of 3,022 (75.6%) patients were older than 18 years old, underwent interventional radiology-performed ultrasound-guided thoracentesis, and had same-day post-procedure chest radiograph evaluation. Patient age (years), laterality of thoracentesis, procedural technical success, volume of fluid removed (mL), method of post-procedure chest imaging, absence or presence of pneumothorax, pneumothorax size (mm), pneumothorax management measures, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Technical success was defined as successful aspiration of pleural fluid. Post-procedure clinical outcomes included new patient-perceived dyspnea and hypoxia (oxygen saturations < 90% on room air). Costs associated with radiographs were estimated using Medicare and Medicaid fee schedules. Results Mean age was 56.7 ± 15.5 years. Interventional radiology-performed ultrasound-guided thoracentesis was performed on the left (n = 1,531; 50.7%), right (n = 1,477; 48.9%), and bilaterally (n = 14; 0.5%) using 5-French catheters. Technical success was 100% (n = 3,022). Mean volume of 940 ± 550 mL of fluid was removed. Post-procedure imaging was performed in the form of posteroanterior (PA) (2.6%; 78/3,022), anteroposterior (AP) (17.0%; 513/3,022), PA and lateral (77.9%; 2,355/3,022), or PA, lateral, and left lateral decubitus (2.5%; 76/3,022) chest radiographs. Post-procedural pneumothorax was identified in 21 (0.69%) patients. Mean pneumothorax size, measured on chest radiograph as the longest distance from the chest wall to the lung, was 18.8 ± 10.2 mm (range: 5.0–35.0 mm). Of the 21 pneumothoraces, 7 (33.3%) were asymptomatic, resolved spontaneously, and had a mean size of 6.4 ± 2.4 mm. Fourteen pneumothoraces, of mean size 25.0 ± 5.8 mm, required management with a pleural drainage catheter (66.6%). The overall incidence of pneumothorax requiring pleural drainage catheter placement following interventional radiology-performed ultrasound-guided thoracentesis was 0.46% (14/3,022). Of the patients requiring drainage catheter placement, 12/14 (85.7%) and 13/14 (92.9%) had dyspnea and hypoxia, respectively. Potential costs to Medicare and Medicaid, for chest radiographs, in this study, were $27,547 and $10,581, respectively. Conclusion The incidence of clinically significant pneumothorax requiring catheter drainage following interventional radiology-operated ultrasound-guided thoracentesis is exceedingly low (0.46%), and routine post-procedure chest radiographs in asymptomatic patients provide little value. Reserving post-procedure chest radiographs for patients with post-procedure dyspnea or hypoxia will result in more efficient resource utilization and health care cost savings.

Acute Budd Chiari syndrome in an ECMO patient

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is widely utilized to make timely decisions regarding patient care. This approach allowed us to diagnose the cause of acutely rising transaminases in a patient in severe ARDS secondary to influenza pneumonia requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). Case report: A 36-year-old female presented with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure secondary to influenza A infection. Within 24 hours, she required intubation and met severe ARDS criteria with a PaO2/FiO2 ratio of 62. She was managed with high PEEP and low tidal volume ventilation strategy, however her clinical status continued to deteriorate and the decision was made to pursue VV-ECMO. Within hours of cannulation her aspartate aminotransferase (AST) dramatically increased from 736 to 4512 µ/L, with concurrent mild increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK). Point-of-care ultrasound was performed which revealed a complete absence of flow in the hepatic vein, secondary to acute obstruction by an 25-French drainage catheter for the ECMO circuit. The catheter was exchanged with a smaller French catheter and the patient’s transaminases and CPK levels quickly decreased and returned to normal within several days. Discussion: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition caused by acute obstruction of hepatic vein blood flow that can lead to fulminant liver failure if left untreated. BCS is usually caused by a hepatic vein thrombus, however any mechanical obstruction can lead to the same pathology. Point-of-care ultrasound lead to a prompt diagnosis and allowed for quick action to correct the obstruction. Although BCS is not a common problem with VV-ECMO, the syndrome should always be on the differential of any patient on VV-ECMO with acutely rising transaminases. Conclusion: Ultrasound played an integral role in providing a crucial diagnosis of BCS secondary to obstruction by an ECMO drainage catheter.

Common Options and Overlooked Alternative for Drainage of Inaccessible Presacral Abscess: A Case Report

Purpose. To demonstrate options and alternative for drainage of inaccessible presacral abscess by the example of a rare clinical case of pyogenic spondylodiscitis, transsacraly drained under a combination of two interventional techniques – CT-guided bone biopsy and abscess drainage.Materials and methods. A 55-year-old patient with history of recurrent paravertebral abscesses previously treated with antibiotic therapy was referred to our institution experiencing lower back pain and weakness in both lower extremities. Computed tomography revealed pyogenic spondylodiscitis along with left facet joint destruction and presacral abscess located in ventral sacral surface. Due to inaccessible abscess location, it was decided to perform CT-guided percutaneous transsacral abscess drainage. An 8G bone marrow biopsy needle was used to penetrate the sacrum and create a path for drainage catheter placement. Using the Seldinger technique 8 Fr drainage catheter was inserted into abscess cavity.Results. Neither early nor late procedure-related complications occurred. Sixteen days after drainage procedure, the catheter was withdrawn as patient’s condition improved and the outflow of pus had reduced considerably.Conclusions. Despite being rarely used, CT fluoroscopy-guided transsacral drainage approach is considered to be minimally invasive and in some cases the only viable option for drainage of pyogenic spondilodiscitis of the lumbosacral junction.