Postpercutaneous

Postpercutaneous is a medical term used to describe the period, events, or management that occur after a percutaneous procedure, an intervention performed through the skin with needles, wires, or catheters, typically guided by imaging. It denotes the recovery phase and any ensuing clinical or imaging findings that follow the initial intervention.

The term is used across specialties such as interventional radiology, nephrology, and hepatobiliary medicine. It applies to procedures including percutaneous biopsy, drain placement, ablation, angiography with catheterization, and percutaneous nephrostomy. In notes, postpercutaneous findings may refer to laboratory changes, imaging results, or clinical status in the recovery phase.

Postprocedural care involves vital sign monitoring, assessment for pain and signs of bleeding or infection, wound and catheter care, and activity restrictions. The timing and specifics depend on the procedure and patient risk factors, including anticoagulation status and coagulopathy. Observation periods and discharge plans are tailored to the type of procedure performed and the patient’s condition.

Common postpercutaneous complications include bleeding, infection at the entry site, pneumothorax after thoracic procedures, catheter dislodgement, urine leakage, or injury to adjacent structures. Imaging and laboratory tests are used to evaluate concerns and to confirm device position or tract patency. Management ranges from observation and supportive care to targeted interventions as indicated.

In practice, the term helps organize documentation and follow-up, such as catheter removal, repeat imaging, or medication adjustments. Documentation often uses a postpercutaneous label to distinguish the recovery phase from preprocedural notes.