title: [Percutaneous treatment of retroperitoneal abscesses].
abstract: The retroperitoneal abscess is an uncommon disease, that must be treated by drainage. The progressive use of the percutaneous drainage, under ultrasound or computed tomography guidance (CT), has changed the therapeutical management and has demonstrated to be a valid alternative to surgical drainage. From 1986 to 1998, 16 patients with retroperitoneal abscesses were treated by percutaneous drainage (14 with CT and 2 with ultrasound guidance). This method eradicated the abscess in 13 cases, in 2 was necessary a new function to cure the abscess, and 1 patient, with a severe sepsis, died. Percutaneous drainage was the unique treatment used in 12 patients. In the remaining four, the patients' clinical status improved after percutaneous drainage, and they were able to undergo subsequent elective nephrectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous drainage of retroperitoneal abscesses has been established as a viable alternative to surgical intervention. This method can resolve the abscess or improve the patient' clinical status to undergo elective surgery.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tejido Sánchez
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Jiménez de la Peña
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Duarte Ojeda
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villacampa Aubá
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Martín Muñoz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lozano Ojeda
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Leiva Galvis
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011677:Punctures / Q000379:methods; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography