LARGE-CALIBER (24--28-F) CATHETERS FOR RADIOLOGICALLY GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS PROCEDURES

A catheter set originally designed as a system for placement of large thoracostomy tubes with the Seldinger technique and sequential coaxial dilations was used to place 31 catheters in 28 patients. Either compu ted tomographic (CT) (n = 25) or fluoroscopic (n = 3) guidance was use d. The tubes were 28 F (n = 13) and 24 F (n = 18). The tubes were succ essfully placed in 27 of 28 patients (96%), with the infection process es completely resolved in 22 of 25 patients (88%). Use of the system i s simple and safe. These large catheters may be useful for cure of pro cesses that do not respond to drainage with smaller tubes.