title: Percutaneous drainage of fluid collections in the extremities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the results of percutaneous drainage of fluid collections in the extremities.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1990-1997, 28 patients aged 14-90 years underwent percutaneous drainage of 33 fluid collections in the extremities; two patients underwent multiple drainages. Fluid collections were in the hip-groin area (n = 16), thighs (n = 6), buttocks (n = 6), knees (n = 3), calf (n = 1), and axilla (n = 1). Three intraarticular collections were included. The patients who had undergone prior procedures were eight who had undergone surgical drainage, 10 who had undergone needle aspiration, and one who had undergone surgical débridement. The two most common guidance methods of catheter placement were ultrasound localization and fluoroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average drainage duration was 18.2 days (range, 1-93 days). The estimated cavity sizes were 4-733 cm3. Purulent fluid was drained in 13 patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly identified organism (n = 9). Nine patients had postoperative lymphoceles; five of these patients underwent sclerotherapy. Two (7%) patients had two complications, one of which was major. Failure occurred in four (16%) of 25 patients; two needed repeat drainage for recurrence, and two needed subsequent surgery. Success could not be determined in three patients who were lost to follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous drainage of fluid collections in the extremities is an effective alternative to open-incision drainage in inpatients and outpatients.
authors.affiliation: Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Vesely
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla / Q000601:surgery; D002081:Buttocks / Q000601:surgery; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005121:Extremities / Q000601:surgery*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006119:Groin / Q000601:surgery; D006615:Hip / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery; D008210:Lymphocele / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012008:Recurrence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000601:surgery; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation; D013582:Synovial Fluid; D013848:Thigh / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional