Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Drainage of Pelvic Fluid Collections

Abstract

Pelvic fluid collections can be challenging and often inaccessible because of their location and close proximity to adjacent organs and spine. This causes an increased risk for morbidity and poor outcomes. Recent advances in endoscopic ultrasound and therapeutic devices provide an effective, safe, and minimally invasive option to surgery or interventional radiology. These devices offer a relatively pain-free method that has shown good outcomes with minimal risk in recent case series, and has increasingly become the first-line treatment of choice. This article summarizes the current literature and the technique and considerations for successful drainage of these collections.

Keywords: Drainage; Endoscopic ultrasonography; Intra-abdominal abscess; Pelvic abscess; Therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound; Transrectal drainage.