Ovarian Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ovarian Cancer, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, information.

Retrieval of intraperitoneal Penrose drain under transvaginal endoscopic guidance.

Takeyama S, Aoki Y, Kamimura N, Suzuki M, Tanaka K

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi dori Niigata 951-8510, Japan.

BACKGROUND: One of the unfortunate complications associated with the use of Penrose drains is slipping down of the drain into the peritoneal cavity because of incomplete placement of skin sutures to secure the drain. CASE: A 49-year-old woman with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIc ovarian cancer underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, total hysterectomy, partial omentectomy, and pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes removal. On the third postoperative day, one of the Penrose drains slipped down, leaving it inside the patient. The intraperitoneal Penrose drain was successfully retrieved under endoscopic guidance through vaginal cut stump. She went home on the 9th day after the initial operation and started to receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy on the 17th day. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic-guided retrieval through vaginal cut stump of an intraperitoneal retained Penrose drain is an excellent option.

Published 18 July 2006 in Gynecol Oncol, 102(2): 391-3.
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