title: Removal of an Entrapped Lumbar Drain After Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid drainage with a lumbar drain is an important aspect of spinal cord protection during thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Lumbar drains have low reported complication rates. We report a case of an entrapped lumbar drain after thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Computed tomography imaging of the lumbar spine with 3-dimensional reformatting was critical in determining where the drain was entrapped and assisted with its removal. Induction of general anesthesia to reduce muscle spasms and extreme flexion of the lumbar spine also facilitated removal. This case demonstrates a safe step-by-step approach that was used for removing an entrapped drain.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of *Anesthesiology, †Radiology, and ‡Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Reney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mazzeffi
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*