A Tunable Digital Tourniquet Using Nelaton Catheter.

Kim, Sang Wha; Yim, Young Min; Jung, Sung No; Kwon, Ho

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2008;35(6):759-761.
Published online November 1, 2008.

A Tunable Digital Tourniquet Using Nelaton Catheter.

Sang Wha Kim, Young Min Yim, Sung No Jung, Ho Kwon

Department of Plastic Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. niceface@ catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
Surgery on digit requires a clear, bloodless field and it can be achieved by using a tourniquet. Several type of tourniquet have been used including Penrose drains and sterile glove with hemostat. We present a simple digital tourniquet using nelaton catheter, which is easily available, inexpensive, easy-to-apply, and effective for digital surgery. METHODS: We made a small incision on the opposite side of an opening at the tip of nelaton catheter. Then the other tip of nelaton catheter is passed through the incision to form a ring. Nelaton catheter is placed aournd the base of the injured finger, making a tight circle to desired pressure.
RESULTS
A simple tourniquet using nelaton catheter effectively achieves a bloodless field and allows fine control of the pressure for digital surgery.
CONCLUSION
We present a sismple digital tourniquet using nelaton catheter, which is easily available, inexpensive, tunable, and available for more than one finger.

Keywords: Tourniquet; Digit