According to the Royal Children's Hospital, drains should be removed as soon as practicable, as a longer indwelling time increases the risk of infection. A pigtail catheter is inserted following an ultrasound to identify the location. It's locked in place, and covered in a sterile dressing. Physicians often insert these catheters to manage conditions such as pleural effusions or abscesses, but the removal process is not without. A pigtail drain is a temporary, flexible catheter used to manage collections of unwanted fluid within the body, such as abscesses, bile, or pleural effusions. The device is named for the curved, coiled end that sits inside the body cavity, which helps keep the tube securely in place. Removal. Early removal of the chest tube has advantages of reducing postoperative pain and speed recovery.
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