Comparative Analysis of Pigtail Drainage Catheters : Skived Holes versus Punched Holes and Implications for Fluid Dynamics

BackgroundPigtail drainage catheters are essential tools in medical interventions that require the drainage of fluid collections from bodily cavities. Two commonly employed designs feature punched holes and skived holes. Despite the prevalence of these catheters in clinical set- tings, little research exists to compare the efficiency of the two-hole designs in terms of fluid dynamics and clinical applicability.ObjectiveThe primary objective of this study is to thoroughly investigate and compare the fluid dynamics characteristics and efficiency of pigtail drainage catheters with skived holes and punched holes. This study aims to quantify the effects of these hole designs on shear stress, turbulence, and volumetric flow rates, providing insight into the potential clinical implica- tions.MethodsTo achieve this, we employed a multi-modal approach incorporating both computational and experimental methods. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was employed to simulate the flow of fluid through each catheter design. This model solved the Navier-Stokes equations numerically to produce detailed velocity and pressure profiles.[1]An experimental setup mimicking in vivo conditions was also used, where catheters with both hole types were inserted into a fluid chamber filled with a viscous fluid resembling human biological fluid.Key FindingsOur results indicate that catheters with skived holes demonstrate significantly lower shear stress and turbulence when compared to catheters with punched holes. Furthermore, catheters featuring skived holes achieved higher volumetric flow rates, signifying more effi- cient drainage capabilities.Clinical Implications