percutaneo

Percutaneous (Italian: percutaneo) is a medical term describing procedures or accesses that traverse the skin to reach internal structures. The term contrasts with open surgical approaches and is commonly used in interventional radiology and minimally invasive surgery. Percutaneous techniques rely on imaging guidance to target tissues while minimizing disruption of surrounding structures.

Common percutaneous procedures include diagnostic or therapeutic biopsies, percutaneous drainage of fluid collections or abscesses, and access to organs such as the kidney, liver, or biliary system (for example percutaneous nephrostomy or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography). In cardiology, percutaneous coronary intervention is a widely used revascularization method. Percutaneous ablation techniques, such as radiofrequency or microwave ablation, are used to destroy tumors or arrhythmogenic foci.

Procedures are typically guided by fluoroscopy, ultrasound, CT, or MRI, and are performed by interventional radiologists, interventional cardiologists, or surgeons. Benefits include reduced recovery times and smaller scars, compared with open surgery, but risks can include bleeding, infection, injury to nearby structures, contrast-related reactions, and exposure to ionizing radiation.

The term reflects a broader shift toward minimally invasive care, enabling diagnostic and therapeutic options through small skin punctures rather than large incisions. See also interventional radiology and minimally invasive surgery.