title: Retained fragment of a lumbar subarachnoid drain.
abstract: We present two patients who each had a retained subarachnoid drain catheter broken during postoperative removal. Management of these fragments should be individualized. The fragment remained in one patient, but was removed in the other because of further procedures required for hydrocephalus. We discuss possible causes of this complication as well as suggestions for prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21201, USA.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Simmerman
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Fahy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000601:surgery*; D013346:Subarachnoid Space; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt