Abdominal Retraction System Aids Femoral Catheterization

The KanguruWeb is composed of a disposable contoured web (made from radiolucent non-woven fabric and polyester), and a reusable base unit made of radiolucent, high density polypropylene. Reusable lockable arm rests made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) are available that fit into the base unit. The system is latex-free and fits most body types. Because no adhesion to the skin is necessary, complications due to tape or razor burn are eliminated. Total procedure time is less than one minute, compared to 10 minutes using standard taping procedures.

Besides retracting the pannus, the KanguruWeb also renders the patient's anatomy more appropriate for femoral catheterization procedures. When the pannus is firmly retracted, it is easier to visualize and stick the common femoral artery. Often, without using this device, the instinct is to stick too low, resulting in cannulating the superficial femoral artery, instead of the common femoral artery. Some physicians report that they can use a shorter sheath when using the KanguruWeb. The KanguruWeb is a product of Milamy Partners (Yarmouth, ME, USA; www.kanguruweb.com), and has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"During a long day in the cath lab, the idea came to me that if there was a device to pull the pannus out of the way, my day would be easier. The day after I originally thought of the idea, I saw a patient in the office who complained about tape burns over their belly where tape had been applied to pull their pannus out of the way,” said Dr. John McKnight, an interventional cardiologist from Morgantown (WV, USA), who developed the product. "We have even used the device to pull sheaths in very obese patients with good success.”


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Milamy Partners