Woggle Technique

Woggle Technique

Al Sacchetti

• Problem: Persistent venous ooze around your central line insertion point.
  • Direct pressure helps, but it often persists.
  • Often a stitch is placed to help stem the bleeding, but the knot of the purse string suture can be annoying to remove.
• Instead use the woggle technique.
  • This is used in interventional radiology.
  • Place a suture through the skin but underneath the line, pull the ends up on both sides, and cut the needle off.
  • Twist the 2 loose strings together to make one string.
  • Get a stopcock and turn the lever so it is facing the sideport which leaves it open,
  • Take the two ends (twisting into one) and pass it through the open passage in the stopcock, push the stopcock against the skin and then turn the lever on the stopcock.
    • This cinches it down against the skin and stops the bleeding.
  • Leave this in place for 15-30 minutes and then go back and rotate the lever and reverse everything and the suture can be put out.
    • If it is still oozing, just rotate the lever again and seal it again.
  • Be careful to pass the needle underneath the catheter when placing the suture to avoid accidentally puncturing the catheter.
  • Can also use this for leaking HD grafts.