title: Percutaneous catheter drainage of abdominal abscesses.
abstract: Eleven patients with 12 abdominal abscesses underwent percutaneous insertion of tube drains into the abscess cavities under radiographic control. Once inserted the catheters were managed in the same way as surgically placed drains. Broad-spectrum antibiotic cover was provided. Of the abscesses 10 resolved and 2 required open drainage; 1 of the latter patients improved dramatically on percutaneous drainage. There were 2 deaths, neither of which was related to the procedure.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000038:Abscess / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal