Leaking Denver Drain

[Kabin]

Do many use denver drains for abdominal ascites? A forum search came back with no results.

Started with my first a few months back, sutures gave way after the first week and was problematic, leaking since. From what other team members say that's the norm. The dr's don't resuture. Pt quality of life drops. Tried colostomy bags in hope of catching leakage but wafer adhesive and colopaste degrade as fast as 1 day. Anyone come up with a solution to stop leak?

[leslie :-D]

why won't the doc resuture?

can you identify what part of the cath is leaking?

it's done under a local and is not too invasive.

i've had a few denver shunts.

the one that leaked, was resutured by the doc...

and, before the shunt was placed, the surgeon made sure that there was a doc familiar with pv shunts.

other 2 pts i had, didn't leak.

but one of them did get dic.

leslie

[Kabin]

I haven't asked that specifically but I'd guess it's because the sutures aren't expected to last. We seem to do a fair share of them and no one has a solution aside from daily visits and dressing changes. It leaks at the point where the denver drain emerges from the abdomen. Once the suture is gone and fluid pressure builds, the fluid emerges at will.

[leslie :-D]

I haven't asked that specifically but I'd guess it's because the sutures aren't expected to last.

oh, i didn't know this.

to me, logic would dictate that since these shunts are indicated for refractory/chronic ascites, that the sutures would be intended to last for months at a time.

i suppose since the doc won't resuture, daily/prn dsgs is the only way to go.

i might consider securing the dsgs with montgomery straps?

good luck!

leslie