Feasibility of C-arm-supported CT fluoroscopy in percutaneous abscess drainage procedures.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of C-arm-supported CT fluoroscopy to facilitate percutaneous abscess drainage procedures.


METHODS
Prospectively, 40 percutaneous drainage procedures were performed either with C-arm-supported CT fluoroscopy or with CT fluoroscopy alone. Hybrid imaging was performed on the CT couch after complementing a CT fluoroscopy scanner with a C-arm fluoroscopy unit. Procedure times, drainage revisions during follow-up, and postinterventional drainage periods were analyzed.


RESULTS
When compared with exclusive CT fluoroscopic guidance, a median procedure time of 9 +/- 3.7 min versus 14.8 +/- 7.3 min was required for C-arm-supported CT fluoroscopy (p < 0.005, t-test). During follow-up, eight drainage catheters had to be revised within the exclusive CT fluoroscopy group, while only two revisions were necessary within the C-arm-supported CT fluoroscopy group. With C-arm-supported CT fluoroscopy, postinterventional drainage periods were reduced (median 13 vs 19 days; p < 0.001, t-test).


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with exclusive cross-sectional image guidance, C-arm-supported CT fluoroscopy seems to improve placement of abscess drainage catheters to possibly reduce procedure times, drainage catheter revisions, and postinterventional drainage periods.
Department of Radiology, Philipps-University Hospital, Marburg, Germany. froehlic@mailer.uni-marburg.de
J J
JJ
Froelich
M
M
El-Sheik
H J
HJ
Wagner
S
S
Achenbach
C
C
Scherf
K J
KJ
Klose
D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011677:Punctures; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation