HOW TO USE THE KATGUIDE

1) Blunt dissection

 When using the KatGuide technique, blunt dissection in the "safe triangel" and control with a finger is carried out, just as in the conventional procedure.  

2) Insert KatGuide in pleural cavity:

The distal, curved part of the KatGuide is inserted in the pleural cavity, and the tip is directed towards the part of the pleural cavity that needs drainage.

3) Direct the KatGuide to the desired area of the pleural cavity.

In most cases, the desired placement of a chest tube is at the top for pneumothorax. When fluid is in the pleural cavity, the desired placement is at the bottom.

4) Verify the insertion direction:

When using the KatGuide, the surgeon can see the insertion direction for the chest tube by looking at the handle. The handle is held parallel to the skin, to ensure that the insertion direction is parallel to the lung surface. This prevents placing the chest tube in the interlobar fissure or lung tissue, which are some of the most common locations for malplacement 1.

5) Remove KatGuide:

When the chest tube is in place, the KatGuide is removed by holding the chest tube at the desired depth while carefully pulling out the KatGuide by following the curved shape of the distal part.