Percutaneous drainage of abdominal abscesses and fluid collections

ABSTRACT

This report summarizes the results of 64 percutaneous catheter drainage of abdominal abscesses and fluid collections in 56 patients. Aspiration and drainage was guided with computed tomography in 34 patients and with ultrasound in 30 patients. Success rate was 90%. Infected collections were successfully drained in 94% and noninfected collections in 72%. Partial success was achieved in two patients. Three patients failed to respond to percutaneous drainage. Recurrence occurred in one. Complications occurred in nine patients, two of which were major [3%] and seven were minor [11%]. Image- guided percutaneous drainage appears to be the treatment of choice for most of the intraabdominal collections