Endovaginal ultrasonographically guided transvaginal drainage for treatment of pelvic abscesses.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the ability of endovaginal ultrasonographically directed transvaginal drainage of pelvic abscesses to treat patients who failed intravenous antibiotic therapies and whose abscesses were not amenable to percutaneous or colpotomy drainage.


METHODS
Thirty-one women who would otherwise have required surgery to treat their pelvic abscesses underwent the procedure. Immediate clinical response and longer-term follow-up results were collected retrospectively.


RESULTS
Thirty-four procedures were performed on 31 women. Purulent material (10 to 350 ml) was aspirated in every case. Twenty-six of the 31 women (84%) were successfully treated by drainage. In the 6- to 21-month follow-up period, 10 women remained without problems, eight had sequelae related to pelvic infection, and eight were lost to follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Endovaginal ultrasonographically guided transvaginal drainage is a safe, effective procedure for treatment of pelvic abscesses and should be considered the route of choice for draining collections not amenable to percutaneous or colpotomy drainage.
Nelson
A L
AL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California Medical Center, Los Angeles, Torrance 90509, USA.
Sinow
R M
RM
Renslo
R
R
Renslo
J
J
Atamdede
F
F
D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010388:Pelvis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014621:Vagina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*