Pigtail catheter
Formal Definition
A thin-bore catheter with a curled tip (shaped like a pig's tail) placed under imaging guidance to drain fluid collections.
How It's Used on the Ward
"Put in a pigtail" — less invasive than a chest tube, used for smaller effusions or drainable collections.
Example
""CT shows a 4cm parapneumonic effusion. Let's get IR to place a pigtail rather than a full chest tube.""
Clinical Context
IR (interventional radiology) typically places pigtail catheters under CT or ultrasound guidance. Smaller bore, less painful, but can clog more easily than standard chest tubes.
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