Retained anchoring suture after removal of a Cope-loop drainage catheter: use of the retract-and-cut method.
A method is described for managing retention of the anchoring suture within the tract after a Cope-loop drainage catheter has been removed. In the authors' experience, the overwhelming majority of such strings can be extracted by sliding a dilator over the suture and using gentle manipulation at the site of adherence. However, in 12 patients, this technique was not successful. In these patients, the retract-and-cut method was used: The suture is pulled taut and cut at the surface, allowing it to retract into the tract. This provided a safe and simple solution for this complication.
Zegel
H G
HG
Department of Radiology, Presbyterian Medical Center of Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Brisson
L J
LJ
Freiman
D B
DB
Weese
J
J
Hartz
W
W
Schilling
J F
JF
D001646:Bile; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D013537:Sutures