Interventional Sonography of Abdominal Abscesses

Abscesses are frequently encountered in emergency department patients and can be rapidly diagnosed on ultrasound. They present as cystic lesions with thickened and irregular walls containing corpuscolated fluid. The authors aimed to describe the results of ultrasound-guided drainage of abscesses. After clinical examination and obtaining a platelet count and coagulation rate, the investigators applied local anesthesia with lidocaine; under ultrasound guidance, a one-step placement of a 7 Fr pig tail catheter was introduced into the lesion. Afterwards, drainage and saline irrigations were performed. In cases where the abscess material was very thick, the catheter was fixed to the skin and, under fluoroscopic guidance, the investigators proceeded to change the catheter with another 10-16 Fr catheter so that drainage could be more rapid. The catheter was usually removed after 5-7 days. This study presents 13 patients affected by single or multiple, simple or multi-loculated, abdominal abscess in different sites treated by ultrasound-guided catheter drainage. All cases were successfully drained, rapidly, and without complications. Ultrasound-guided abscess drainage is a safe method that can be performed rapidly at the bedside, thus reducing time to diagnosis and the hospital length of stay. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]