Simple one-step catheter placement for the treatment of infected lymphocele.
OBJECTIVE
A pelvic lymphocele is a cystic collection of lymph fluid in the pelvis following pelvic lymphadenectomy. This retrospective study was undertaken to show the efficacy and safety of simple one-step catheter placement for the treatment of infected lymphocele.


METHODS
Ten infected lymphoceles were treated in nine patients. The percutaneous drainage procedures were performed using simple one-step trocar technique under sonographical guidance. The one-step pig tail catheter system consists of an 18-gauge needle, stylet, and 7F drainage tube. A 33% povidone-iodine solution was instilled and left in the cavity for 30 min twice daily.


RESULTS
Overall, 9 of the 10 infected lymphoceles were successfully treated with one-step catheter drainage. Percutaneous catheter drainage was maintained for 2-17 days. One of the patients required open surgery for the persistence of infected lymphocele due to the catheter dislodgment. No patients encountered sepsis, bowel perforation, and neurovascular injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Simple one-step procedure enables long-term drainage and is a well-tolerated, safe, and effective technique in the management of infected lymphocele.
Kurata
Hitoshi
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Niigata University Niigata, Asahimachi-dori 1-757, 951-8510, Niigata, Japan. tounin@med.niigata-u.ac.jp
Aoki
Yoichi
Y
Tanaka
Kenichi
K
D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects; D008210:Lymphocele / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D010388:Pelvis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery