percutaneous

Percutaneous refers to procedures performed through the skin, typically by needle puncture or a small incision, to reach internal organs, spaces, or vessels. The term comes from per- “through” and cutis “skin.” In medicine, percutaneous interventions are usually minimally invasive and image-guided, and are performed by interventional radiologists, interventional surgeons, or other physicians.

Techniques commonly use image guidance such as ultrasound, computed tomography, fluoroscopy, or magnetic resonance imaging to achieve precise access. Access devices include needles, trocars, cannulas, catheters, and drainage devices. Procedures are often done under local anesthesia with sedation; some may require general anesthesia depending on complexity and patient factors.

Applications span diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. Diagnostically, percutaneous biopsy of the liver, kidney, lung, or soft tissue is common. Therapeutically, percutaneous drainage of abscesses, percutaneous nephrostomy or biliary drainage, and stone removal procedures like percutaneous nephrolithotomy are used. Ablation therapies for tumors (radiofrequency or microwave) are another category. Interventional procedures also include vertebral augmentation such as vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty and various image-guided vascular access techniques.

Benefits of percutaneous procedures include smaller incisions, reduced recovery times, and often shorter hospital stays compared with open surgery. Limitations include restricted access to certain anatomy, potential for bleeding, infection, or injury to adjacent structures, and the need for specialized imaging and operator expertise. Radiation exposure and contrast reactions are considerations in many cases.

Safety and training emphasize sterile technique, patient informed consent, multidisciplinary collaboration, and post-procedure monitoring. Outcomes depend on appropriate patient selection, precise imaging guidance, and operator experience.