Perkutane

Perkutane refers to medical procedures or techniques that are performed through the skin, typically by puncture or through a small incision. The approach relies on inserting needles, probes, or catheters to access internal organs or spaces, usually under imaging guidance such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or fluoroscopy. The term is common in German medical language and has the English equivalent percutaneous.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from Latin percutaneus, meaning through the skin. In German texts it is used in phrases like perkutane Biopsie or perkutane Interventionen. Variants such as perkutan are encountered, but the concept remains the same: access through the skin rather than via open surgery.

Applications and examples: Diagnostic percutaneous procedures include biopsies performed through the skin to obtain tissue samples from organs such as the liver, lung, or bone. Therapeutic and interventional examples include perkutane Drainage of fluid collections (for example pleural or abscess drainage), perkutane Katheterisierung to gain vascular or urinary tract access, and perkutane Ablation techniques (such as radiofrequency or cryoablation) for tumor treatment. Percutane Nervenblockaden or other image-guided pain therapy are also described under this umbrella. The common feature is a minimally invasive route enabled by imaging to increase precision and safety.

Advantages and limitations: Perkutane procedures are generally less invasive than open surgery, often associated with shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery. They require specialized imaging and operator expertise and carry risks such as bleeding, infection, injury to adjacent structures, or catheter-related complications. Suitability depends on lesion location, size, and patient factors, with careful risk-benefit assessment.

See also: minimalinvasive Verfahren, bildgebende Verfahren, CT-gesteuerte Biopsie, Ultraschall-gesteuerte Interventionen.