Comparison of loop and primary incision & drainage techniques in adult patients with cutaneous abscess: A preliminary, randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to compare efficacy of loop drainage and standard incision & drainage (I&D) in adult patients with cutaneous abscess in the emergency department.


METHODS
This study is an interventional, parallel group, randomized clinical trial. Adult patients with cutaneous abscess were randomized into loop drainage and standard I&D groups. The primary outcome was defined as change in diameter of abscess and cellulitis 7days after procedure. Secondary outcome measures were pain intensity at the end of the procedure and procedure duration. Also patient satisfaction, need for antibiotics and repetitive drainage were recorded.


RESULTS
A total of 46 patients were included in the study (23 in each group). Both groups had similar baseline characteristics. Median abscess diameters were 3.2 (1.9-4.0) cm and 3.0 (2.4-4.8) cm in loop drainage and I&D groups respectively. In the loop drainage group there was a -0.6cm (95% CI: -1.7-0.5) difference in abscess diameter compared to the I&D group. There was also a reduction in cellulitis diameter (-1.3cm, 95% CI: -3.4-0.8). No statistically significant difference was found between groups in patient satisfaction, use of antibiotics or need for repetitive drainage.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study revealed that, loop drainage technique is similar to standard I&D technique in abscess resolution and complications. (Clinical Trials Registration ID: NCT02286479).
Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
İbrahim Ulaş
İU
Özturan
Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey. Electronic address: nurettinozgurdogan@gmail.com.
Nurettin Özgür
NÖ
Doğan
Derince Training and Research Hospital, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Onur
O
Karakayalı
Derince Training and Research Hospital, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Asım Enes
AE
Özbek
Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Serkan
S
Yılmaz
Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Murat
M
Pekdemir
Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, RI, USA.
Selim
S
Suner
D000038:Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000473:pathology; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
Abscess; Cellulitis; Drainage; Emergency department (MeSH Database)