Interventional Management of Gastrointestinal Fistulas

Gastrointestinal (GI) fistulas are frequently very serious complications that are associated with high morbidity and mortality. GI fistulas can cause a wide array of pathophysiological effects by allowing abnormal diversion of the GI contents, including digestive fluid, water, electrolytes, and nutrients, from either one intestine to another or from the intestine to the skin. As an alternative to surgery, recent technical advances in interventional radiology and percutaneous techniques have been shown as advantageous to lower the morbidity and mortality rate, and allow for superior accessibility to the fistulous tracts via the use of fistulography. In addition, new interventional management techniques continue to emerge. We describe the clinical and imaging features of GI fistulas and outline the interventional management of GI fistulas.

Postoperative Intraabdominal Fluid Collections: A Modified Percutaneous Drainage Method using a Surgical Drain Track

In the management of postoperative fluid collection, the conventional percutaneous drainage method can be employed. Because of abdominal incisions and various types of surgical drains and/or T-tubes, the application of this method is not always easy, however. We inserted a drainage catheter through a pre-existing percutaneous track formed by a surgical drain located adjacent to the site of abnormal fluid collection. There was no need to remove the drain nor make an additional puncture in the abdominal wall. A dilator was inserted along the drain, and a guide wire was used to negotiate its intraperitoneal track and readch the accumulated fluid. The procedure was simple and safe. We briefly deseribe our experience of this modified percutaneous drainage technique, as used in three cases involving postoperative fluid collection.

Intracavitary Urokinase in the Treatment of Multiloculated Liver Abscess: A case report

Radiologically-guided percutaneous abscess drainage has been preferred as a therapeutic modality for hepatic abscesses, though where these have been septated or multilocular, its success rate has often been low. The results of several clinical and in vitro studies have recently suggested that in difficult cases, where abscesses occur in the peritoneal cavity and retroperitoneum, or multiloculated empyema of the thorax, urokinase may be useful. To our knowledge, however, there has been only one report of a case of liver abscess in which intracavitary urokinase was administered. The authors therefore report a case of multiseptated hepatic abscess occuring in a 53-year-man. Conventional percutaneous tube drainage failed, but the use of transcatheter intracavitary urokinase was successful. Diagnosis and continuing assessment involved a combination of ultrasound and CT scanning.

Effectiveness of Percutaneous Catheter Drainage for Tuberculous Iliopsoas Abscess associated with Tuberculous Spondylitis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous catheter drainage of tuberculous abscess associated with tuberculous spondylitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In twelve patients (male:female = 1:2; mean age, 37.3 years) tuberculous abscess was diagnosed, and was treated by percutaneous abscess drainage (PAD). All patients had either a psoas or iliopsoas abscess and in two, a paravertebral abscess was also present. Four had bilateral lesions, one, a unilateral lesion, and one, paravertebral abscesses and bilateral psoas. The size of abscesses ranged from4x5x12cm to 6x9x30cm; four were septated and all were lobulated. Using an 8.5-14F catheter, 17 of 18 abscesses were percutaneously drained; Ultrasound guidance was used in 12 cases, and CT guidance in five. RESULTS: The volume of drainage mater ranged from 150 to 1200 cc(mean, 600cc), and the duration of catheter insertion was 6-48 (mean, 17.4) days. In no patient did significant complications arise during or after drainage, and in all cases, follow-up studies using ultrasound, CT or MRI were performed. The duration of follow-up ranged from 3 to 35 (mean,15.4) months; during this time, no recurrence was noted. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy alone is sufficient for treating a small tuberculous psoas or iliopsoas abscess, but for a large abscess, adjuvant drainage is necessary.

Percutaneous Drainage of Abscess in the Treatment of Emphysematous Pyelonephritis

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of percutaneous drainage of abscess in the treatment of emphysematous pyelonephritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten cases of nine patients with emphysematous pyelonephritis were percutaneously drained. All were suffering from diabetes mellitus. The procedure was performed under fluoroscopic guidance in nine cases and US guidance in one case in which bilateral multiloculated abscesses were present in the perirenal spaces. The results were classified as cure, partial success, recurrence, or failure. The mean drainage period and complication were analyzed. RESULTS: Eight cases were cured, and there was one partial success. In one case, who had diffuse renal parenchymal destruction without perirenal fluid collection, the treatment failed. The longest drainage period was 45 days, in a case of re-insertion due to incidental catheter removal ; the mean was 23 days. Bacteremia in one case was cured with antibiotic therapy which lasted two days. CONCLUSION: In diabetic patients, percutaneous drainage of abscess is thought to be a safe and effective method for the treatment of emphysematous pyelonephritis, and is one that does not involve diffuse destruction of renal parenchyma.