Keywords
lumbar drain - lumbar drain tunneling - Tuohy needle
An intrathecal lumbar drain placed for extended periods of time is warranted in conditions,
such as perioperative drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to facilitate brain relaxation
in patients undergoing craniotomy or transsphenoidal surgery, access for intrathecal
medication administration, during repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, and
as a CSF diversion in the treatment of cranial or spinal CSF leaks.[1]
[2] To evade complications such as catheter migration, kinking, leaks, and infection,[2]
[3]
[4] tunneling of the catheter is routinely practised.[3] We report a safer technique of tunneling using two Tuohy needles instead of the
prior described method involving one needle.[3]
A written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publishing images prior
to writing this note.
In lateral decubitus position, lumbar puncture (LP) is performed at L3-4 or L4-5 interspace
using a Tuohy needle (14G) under aseptic precautions. The lumbar catheter is advanced
into the subarachnoid space through the needle subsequent to the removal of stylet
and turning the bevel of the needle cephaloid to ensure advancement of the catheter
in an upward direction. The needle and catheter unit is left in situ ([Fig. 1A]). The second Tuohy needle (14G) is now used to create a subcutaneous tunnel starting
about 6 cm lateral to the LP entry site and brought out adjacent to the LP site ([Fig. 1B]). A small stab incision (2 mm) is made at the LP site to facilitate this. Furthermore,
one should ensure there is no skin tag between the insertion needle and the tunneling
needle. Following removal of the first Tuohy needle carefully, the free end of the
catheter is fed through the second Tuohy needle (beveled end) using non-toothed forceps
and brought out through the needle hub ([Fig. 1C]). The second Tuohy needle is then removed and the catheter is secured ([Fig. 1D]). An external drainage bag is connected to the free end of the catheter.
Fig. 1 (A) Lumbar drain catheter inserted into subarachnoid space through first Tuohy needle.
(B) Subcutaneous tunnel created using second Tuohy needle leaving the first one in situ.
(C) Free end of catheter brought out through the tunneled needle. (D) Final catheter position following removal of both needles.
A simple procedure of lumbar drainage catheter insertion can be plagued by complications
during tunneling when single needle is used for LP and tunneling as described previously
by Hahn et al.[3] Our method of lumbar drain tunneling is similar to their technique with a few exceptions.
First, our method utilizes two Tuohy needles instead of one. Second, the crucial step
of not removing the first Tuohy needle till the second one is tunneled prevents damage
to the catheter, as tunneling is associated with a considerate amount of manipulation
with an unpredictable give-way at the time of emergence of the needle tip. This two-needle
technique circumvents the complication of catheter damage. Finally, a 2-mm stab incision
at LP site suffices in our method as opposed to 5 mm described by them, which may
require a skin suture.
The two-needle technique for tunneling of lumbar drain catheter has been routinely
practiced by us close to two decades in over 500 cases. We have not encountered any
complications so far attributable to the technique per se. We used a Tuohy needle
(14G) available separately as a single needle with stylet for tunneling. However,
an old LP needle may be reused after sterilization.
We recommend the two-needle method for tunneling of lumbar drain catheter to prevent
inadvertent catheter damage while tunneling. The retained LP needle functions like
a shield, while rest of the procedure is underway.
