Use of the guidewire for repositioning displaced spinal catheter during lumboperitoneal shunt placement.
BACKGROUND
During lumboperitoneal shunt operation, we may inadvertently pull and displace the spinal catheter after the catheter placement into the spinal canal. The authors introduce an easy and efficient technique for repositioning a prolapsed catheter into correct place.


METHODS
After the confirmation of cerebrospinal fluid outflow from the end of the catheter, a guidewire for angiogram was gently inserted into the catheter until its tip reached the end of the catheter. The guidewire-inserted catheter was able to be pushed back manually and adequately placed in the spinal canal under the fluoroscope guidance.


RESULTS
Three patients underwent repositioning using this "rescue wire technique" without complications.


CONCLUSIONS
This "rescue wire technique" is useful for repositioning of the displaced catheter into the spinal canal.
Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
Takashi
T
Kawahara
Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
Tatsuki
T
Oyoshi
Department of Neurosurgery, Atsuchi Neurosurgical Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.
Masamichi
M
Atsuchi
Department of Neurosurgery, Atsuchi Neurosurgical Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.
Koji
K
Takasaki
Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
Kazunori
K
Arita
Guidewire; lumboperitoneal shunt; spinal catheter