The distal part of the PNC (directed to the tip of the PNC) was withdrawn for 1 cm at the insertion site and then cut distally from the tweezers with a sterile pair of scissors. The distal part of the PNC was then totally withdrawn with the sterile tweezers, and with the sterile pair of scissors cut in two parts: the tip (defined as the most distal 2 cm) and the subcutaneous part, which were placed in separate dry sterile containers.