Ultrasonically guided percutaneous drainage of abdominal fluid collections: a long-term study of its therapeutic efficacy.
Fifty patients underwent ultrasonically guided percutaneous drainage (US-GPD) either with needle aspiration or catheter drainage. The procedures resulted in 70% complete recovery, 20% partial success and 10% of failures. The same patients were followed with clinical examination and sonography for a mean time of 36.3 months (minimum follow-up: 12 months). During the follow up period, 10 relapses occurred and one patient, considered for surgery after partial percutaneous treatment of a pyogenic liver abscess, recovered completely under conservative treatment. An analysis of the factors potentially related to the recurrence was made. It was found that one-step needle aspiration of abdominal abscesses and percutaneous treatment of chronic pancreatic pseudocysts are more prone to relapses. We conclude that US-GPD is an efficacious therapy for abdominal fluid collections, but an adequate drainage technique and a careful selection of the patients is crucial to avoid the possibility of relapse.
Gastroenterology Service, Ospedale Civile, Piacenza, Italy.
G
G
Civardi
F
F
Fornari
L
L
Cavanna
G
G
Sbolli
M
M
Di Stasi
L
L
Buscarini
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010192:Pancreatic Pseudocyst / Q000150:complications; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy; D014463:Ultrasonography