Percutaneous Drainage with Ultrasound Guidance in the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) is one of the most commonly performed procedures worldwide. To guide the puncture needle and position the catheter, a variety of imaging tools can be used, such as fluoroscopy, computed tomography and ultrasonography (US). Among these different procedures, ultrasonography has gained in popularity for several reasons, including its easy availability, low cost, lack of radiation hazard, good manageability and mobility. The greatest advantage of ultrasound is its real-time capability. The target, the advancing needle and the intervening structures can be visualized at all times, allowing the operator to plan the route, confirm precise needle placement, and

Percutaneous Catheter Drainage of Thoracic Fluid: The Usefulness and Safety of Bedside Trocar Placement under Ultrasound Guidance

“…Kang et al (11) performed bedside percuteneous drainages of various body fluids with the Seldinger technique under ultrasound guidance; they reported the procedure time to be less than 1 hour in all cases. Rapid catheter placement is one of the benefits of the trocar technique, and this feature is useful for the un-cooperative and/or unconscious patients.…”