Percutaneous drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses using large lumen tubes under computed tomographic control

Abstract

Objective: To describe our experience of percutaneous drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses with large-bore catheters under computed tomographic control.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Teaching hospital, Greece.

Subjects: 185 Patients treated for abdominal abscesses during the period 1989-94.

Interventions: Needle aspiration (n = 27), drainage through conventional pigtail catheters (n = 22), and drainage through large-bore (8-16F) Argyle drains (n = 136).

Main outcome measures: Morbidity.

Results: The overall success rate was 166/185 (92%). Of the 136 patients for whom the large-bore drains were used, 9 (7%) developed major complications (bowel fistula, n = 5; and pneumothorax and haemorrhage, n = 2 each) and 10 (7%) developed minor complications (obstruction of the tube, n = 4; dislocation of the tube, n = 3; bleeding from the wound, n = 2; and haematoma of the liver, n = 1). There were no deaths.

Conclusion: Large-bore Argyle drains are efficient and safe for the percutaneous drainage of certain types of abdominal abscesses.