title: Percutaneous drainage of chest abscesses in children.
abstract: Seven patients ranging in age from 3 to 18 years underwent percutaneous drainage of eight intrathoracic abscesses. Five of the abscesses were mediastinal or paramediastinal and resulted from esophageal perforation or esophageal anastomotic leakage. The abscesses resolved in each case, with a mean catheter drainage time of 28 days and no need for surgical intervention. Three of the abscesses were intrapulmonary, and each lay adjacent to a pleural surface. All three lung abscesses resolved within 19-24 days, without thoracotomy or wedge resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH.
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bisset
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Towbin
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D002648:Child; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography