Management of Entrapped Malecot Catheters

Abstract

Malecot catheters have been widely accepted for use during nephrostomy, abscess drainage, and with gastrostomy tubes. Malecot catheters may occasionally be resistant to extraction because of tissue entrapment. Although entrapped catheters are typically removed using traction, this method may be unsuccessful in a few cases, which therefore become difficult to manage. We present 3 cases of entrapped Malecot catheters and discuss the interventional techniques used to treat these patients.