DRAINAGE

ABSCESS

Introduction

Last updated: apr 20, 2023

Percutaneous abscess drainage is standard therapy for patients with intra-abdominal or pelvic abscesses who do not have other indications for surgery. A minority of abscesses may initially appear to be inaccessible due to their location or to the proximity of adjacent structures to the proposed path of a drainage catheter. In addition, the feasibility of percutaneous abscess drainage depends on the consistency of the contents within a collection.

 

Indications

  • Most patients with an abscess should have incision and drainage performed, as antibiotic therapy alone is not sufficient for treatment.
  • In cases of small fluid collections, conservative management with antibiotics, or complete aspiration followed by antibiotics can be considered.

 

Contra indications

Absolute

  • Percutaneous aspiration is contraindicated for definitive treatment of a collection if it is suspected that the collection communicates with bowel or the biliary or urinary tracts.
  • If clinical evaluation suggests peritonitis, the patient should pro- ceed to surgery even if imaging demonstrates drainable collections.
  • Symptomatic fluid collections adjacent to surgical implants of any type (eg, vascular grafts, mesh used for hernia repair, joint prostheses) should be drained only if infected. Catheter placement for drainage of a noninfected collection poses the risk of infecting the implant. Infection can be confirmed with needle aspiration and Gram stain and culture.

Relative

 

Workup

  • Ultrasound
  • CT mostly unavoidable

 

Pre procedural

  • Coagulation status
  • Sedation if necessary

 

Materials

Essentials

  • Ultrasound
  • CT
  • Sterile drapes
  • Depending on the technique chosen
  • Over-the-wire puncture needle, wire and drain
  • Trochar only drain
  • Suture non-absorbable (3-0 Prolene)

Non-Essentials

 

Positioning the patient

  • Dependant on the way of approach

 

The procedure in steps

  • Time out
  • Positioning the patient
  • Prepare with desinfectans and sterile cloth
  • Image-guided over-the-wire or direct placement of the drain
  • Suture the drain
  • Send aspirated material for culture
  • Sign out

Ischiadic nerves
Gastro-colic ligament
Pancreatic accessability
 

Tips and tricks

  • The stomach is considered safe to traverse.
    • A catheter with multiple side holes is deployed with side holes in both the pancreatic collection and the stomach. Such catheters are usually left in place for 6 weeks
  • The liver is considered safe to traverse.
    • A catheter side holes should be completely contained within the abscess to avoid contamination of the adjacent liver or biliary tract.
  • It is safe to traverse the vagina and rectum when using transcavitary routes for imaging-guided abscess drainage
    • The risk of complications with transvaginal drainage is low despite the theoretic risk of hemorrhage from large blood vessels such as the uterine arteries that course close to the vaginal vault

  • It is NOT safe to traverse the pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, small and large bowel, urinary bladder, uterus and ovaries, prostate gland, and most blood vessels.

  • Consider hydrodissection, which can be highly effective in turning a non-approachable collection into a approachable one

  • Trans-gluteal percutaneous drainage of a pelvic abscess is done CT- guided. The optimal approach is to insert the localizing needle at the level of the sacro-spinous ligament, below the piriformis muscle as close as possible to the sacrum. In this way, the sciatic nerve and adjacent vessels can easily be avoided.

  • Postsplenectomy subphrenic collections pose additional technical difficulty because the splenectomy bed is filled by loops of bowel. To avoid traversing the pleura, a subcostal anterior approach should be used. The lung should never be transgressed.

  • Left-sided subphrenic collections can have numerous causes, but the operator should be aware that associated pancreatic tail injury is a common cause. Therefore, all fluid aspirated from this area should be analyzed for amylase content, and the catheter should be injected prior to removal to assess for communication with the pancreatic duct.

  • Near the pancreatic head, the most common route is through the gastrocolic ligament. Collections in this region stretch and displace the gastrocolic ligaments, creating a safe access route between the stomach and transverse colon. A transhepatic approach is a safe alternative.
  • Near the pancreatic tail is usually approached through the left anterior pararenal space. This approach is possible because fluid collections in the pancreatic tail region extend into the left pararenal space and displace the colon anteriorly.
  • There is controversy regarding the value of a transgastric approach for pancreatic and peripancreatic collections. The risk of superinfection is not thought to be significant because the acidic nature of gastric juices renders the effluent sterile.
  • The colon or small bowel should never be transgressed in trying to reach an epigastric or peripancreatic fluid collection or an area of necrosis.

 

Complications

Related to the procedure

  • Vasovagal syncope, pain
  • Bacteremia, sepsis
  • Gastrointestinal perforation
  • Nerve injury
  • Hematoma, active bleeding
  • Pneumothorax, pleural effusion, hemothorax

Related to the catheter
  • Malposition
  • Obstruction
  • Dislodgement, accidental removal, kinking or fracture
  • Inappropriate catheter size, premature removal

Related to the drained collections
  • Failure of percutaneous drainage associated with complex collections (necrotic material content, high-viscosity fluids, loculated collections, digestive, biliary or pancreatic fistula, anastomotic leakage) 2

 

Post-op

  • The catheter should be flushed with 10-20 mL of saline every 6 h to assure patency[

  • tPA can be instilled on the basis of satisfactory catheter position and either extremely viscous contents yielding little to no drainage on the CT or US images obtained immediately following drainage or a large residual collection at follow-up CT imaging.
  • Dose 4 or 6 mg of tPA diluted in 25 ml of 0.9% saline, for patients with multiple catheters, the tPA solution is divided equally among the catheters.
  • After installation the drain is clamped for 30 minutes. The catheter was then returned to gravity drainage without aspiration.
  • This can be safely repeated, Repeat cycle duration ranged from 2–3 days.
  • Highly effective (90%) and safe, with no local bleeding complications. 1

 

Follow-up

  • Clinical and laboratory criteria for efficacious drainage include regression of sepsis, declining fever, diminishing discharge and normalization of WBC and CRP. Drain removal is based on these criteria
  • Absence of improvement within 48 to 72 hours should call for re-imaging to be sure that the drain is still correctly placed and that some other complication has not occurred
  • Persistence of copious discharge after a few days of drainage is suggestive of a fistula, which is a indication for surgical approach

 

Report

 

Literature

File NameTypePermissionsChanged DateDateSize

  1. Beland, M. D., Gervais, D. A., Levis, D. A., Hahn, P. F., Arellano, R. S., & Mueller, P. R. (2008). Complex abdominal and pelvic abscesses: Efficacy of adjunctive tissue-type plasminogen activator for drainage. Radiology, 247(2), 567–573. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2472070761

  2. Robert, B., Yzet, T., & Regimbeau, J. M. (2013). Radiologic drainage of post-operative collections and abscesses. Journal of Visceral Surgery, 150(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2013.05.005

  4. Poultsides GA, Kim CJ, Orlando R 3rd, et al. Angiographic embolization for gastroduodenal hemorrhage: safety, efficacy, and predictors of outcome. Arch Surg. 2008;143:457-461.

  5. Eriksson LG, Sundbom M, Gustavsson S, Nyman R. Endoscopic marking with a metallic clip facilitates transcatheter arterial embolization in upper peptic ulcer bleeding. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2006;17:959-964.

  6. Dixon S, Chan V, Shrivastava V et al. Is there a role for empiric gastroduodenal artery embolization in the management of patients with active upper GI hemorrhage? Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2013 Aug;36(4):970-7.

  7. Shin JH. Recent update of embolization of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Korean J Radiol 2012;13 Suppl 1:S31-S39.

  9. van Leerdam ME. Epidemiology of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2008;22(2):209-24.

  10. Sildiroglu O, Muasher J, Arslan B, Sabri SS, Saad WE, Angle JF, Matsumoto AH, Turba UC. Outcomes of patients with acute upper gastrointestinal nonvariceal hemorrhage referred to interventional radiology for potential embolotherapy. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2014;48(8):687-92.

  11. Strate LL, Gralnek IM. ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Patients With Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016 Apr;111(4):459-74.

  13. van Dam J, Brugge WR. Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract. N Engl J Med. 1999;341(23):1738-48.

  15. Lefkovitz Z, Cappell MS, Lookstein R, Mitty HA, Gerard PS. Radiologic diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal hemorrhage and ischemia. Med Clin North Am. 2002 Nov;86(6):1357-99.

  16. Lee EW, Laberge JM. Differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol 2004; 7: 112-22

  18. Strate LL, Gralnek IM. ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Patients With Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016 Apr;111(4):459-74.

  19. Chaudhry V, Hyser MJ, Gracias VH, Gau FC. Colonoscopy: the initial test for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Am Surg. 1998 Aug;64(8):723-8.

  20. Cummings CL. Value of early capsular endoscopy for severe gastrointestinal bleeding. J Natl Med Assoc. 2004;96(12):1653-6.

  21. Appleyard M, Glukhovsky A, Swain P. Wireless-capsule diagnostic endoscopy for recurrent small-bowel bleeding. N Engl J Med. 2001;344(3):232-3.

  24. Lim JK, Ahmed A. Endoscopic approach to the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol. 2004 Sep;7(3):123-9.

  25. Nicholson AA, Ettles DF, Hartley JE, et al. Transcatheter coil embolotherapy: a safe and effective option for major colonic haemorrhage. Gut 1998; 43:79–84.

  26. Zuckier LS. Acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Semin Nucl Med. 2003 Oct;33(4):297-311.

  27. Imbembo AL, Diverticular disease of the colon. In: Sabiston D, Editor. Textbook of Surgery (14th edn). Philadelphia, PA:WB Saunders, 1992:910.

  29. Loffroy R, Rao P, Ota S, De Lin M, Kwak BK, Geschwind JF. Embolization of acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage resistant to endoscopic treatment: results and predictors of recurrent bleeding. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2010 Dec;33(6):1088-100. doi: 10.1007/s00270-010-9829-7. Epub 2010 Mar 16.

  31. Eriksson LG, Sundbom M, Gustavsson S, Nyman R. Endoscopic marking with a metallic clip facilitates transcatheter arterial embolization in upper peptic ulcer bleeding. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2006 Jun;17(6):959-64.

  32. Anthony S, Milburn S, Uberoi R. Multi-detector CT: review of its use in acute GI haemorrhage. Clin Radiol. 2007 Oct;62(10):938-49.

  33. Ernst O, Bulois P, Saint-Drenant S, Leroy C, Paris JC, Sergent G. Helical CT in acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Eur Radiol. 2003;13(1):114-7

  34. Mirsadraee S, Tirukonda P, Nicholson A, Everett SM, McPherson SJ. Embolization for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal tract haemorrhage: a systematic review. Clin Radiol 2011;66:500-509.

  35. Loffroy R, Guiu B, D'Athis P, Mezzetta L, Gagnaire A, Jouve JL, Ortega-Deballon P, Cheynel N, Cercueil JP, Krausé D. Arterial embolotherapy for endoscopically unmanageable acute gastroduodenal hemorrhage: predictors of early rebleeding. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009 May;7(5):515-23.

  36. Aina R, Oliva VL, Therasse E, et al. Arterial embolotherapy for upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: outcome assessment. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2001;12:195-200.

  37. Mirsadraee S, Tirukonda P, Nicholson A, Everett SM, McPherson SJ. Embolization for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal tract haemorrhage: a systematic review. Clin Radiol 2011;66:500-509.

  38. Loffroy R, Guiu B, Cercueil JP, Lepage C, Latournerie M, Hillon P, Rat P, Ricolfi F, Krausé D. Refractory bleeding from gastroduodenal ulcers: arterial embolization in high-operative-risk patients. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2008 Apr;42(4):361-7.

  39. Loffroy R, Guiu B, D'Athis P, Mezzetta L, Gagnaire A, Jouve JL, Ortega-Deballon P, Cheynel N, Cercueil JP, Krausé D. Arterial embolotherapy for endoscopically unmanageable acute gastroduodenal hemorrhage: predictors of early rebleeding. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009 May;7(5):515-23.

  40. Poultsides GA, Kim CJ, Orlando R 3rd, Peros G, Hallisey MJ, Vignati PV. Angiographic embolization for gastroduodenal hemorrhage: safety, efficacy, and predictors of outcome. Arch Surg 2008;143:457-461.

  42. Gordon RL, Ahl KL, Kerlan RK, Wilson MW, LaBerge JM, Sandhu JS, Ring EJ, Welton ML. Selective arterial embolization for the control of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Am J Surg. 1997;174(1):24-8.

  43. Funaki B, Kostelic JK, Lorenz J, Ha TV, Yip DL, Rosenblum JD, et al. Superselective microcoil embolization of colonic hemorrhage. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2001;177:829-836 7.

  44. Bandi R, Shetty PC, Sharma RP, Burke TH, Burke MW, Kastan D. Superselective arterial embolization for the treatment of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2001;12:1399-1405.

  45. Maleux G, Roeflaer F, Heye S, Vandersmissen J, Vliegen AS, Demedts I, et al. Long-term outcome of transcatheter embolotherapy for acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Am J Gastroenterol 2009;104:2042-2046

  46. Leitman IM, Paull DE, Shires GT 3rd. Evaluation and management of massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Ann Surg 1989;209:175-180

  47. Rosenkrantz H, Bookstein JJ, Rosen RJ, Goff WB 2nd, Healy JF. Postembolic colonic infarction. Radiology 1982;142:47-51.

  48. Koh DC, Luchtefeld MA, Kim DG, Knox MF, Fedeson BC, Vanerp JS, et al. Efficacy of transarterial embolization as definitive treatment in lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Colorectal Dis 2009;11:53-59

  49. Lipof T, Sardella WV, Bartus CM, Johnson KH, Vignati PV, Cohen JL. The efficacy and durability of super-selective embolization in the treatment of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Dis Colon Rectum 2008;51:301-305

  1. Lee EW, Laberge JM. Differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol 2004; 7: 112-22

  2. Baum ST. Arteriographic diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding. In Baum ST, Pentecost MJ, eds. Abrams' angiography interventional radiology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa:Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2006:488.

  4. Poultsides GA, Kim CJ, Orlando R 3rd, et al. Angiographic embolization for gastroduodenal hemorrhage: safety, efficacy, and predictors of outcome. Arch Surg. 2008;143:457-461.

  5. Eriksson LG, Sundbom M, Gustavsson S, Nyman R. Endoscopic marking with a metallic clip facilitates transcatheter arterial embolization in upper peptic ulcer bleeding. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2006;17:959-964.

  6. Dixon S, Chan V, Shrivastava V et al. Is there a role for empiric gastroduodenal artery embolization in the management of patients with active upper GI hemorrhage? Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2013 Aug;36(4):970-7.

  7. Shin JH. Recent update of embolization of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Korean J Radiol 2012;13 Suppl 1:S31-S39.

  9. van Leerdam ME. Epidemiology of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2008;22(2):209-24.

  10. Sildiroglu O, Muasher J, Arslan B, Sabri SS, Saad WE, Angle JF, Matsumoto AH, Turba UC. Outcomes of patients with acute upper gastrointestinal nonvariceal hemorrhage referred to interventional radiology for potential embolotherapy. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2014;48(8):687-92.

  11. Strate LL, Gralnek IM. ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Patients With Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016 Apr;111(4):459-74.

  13. van Dam J, Brugge WR. Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract. N Engl J Med. 1999;341(23):1738-48.

  15. Lefkovitz Z, Cappell MS, Lookstein R, Mitty HA, Gerard PS. Radiologic diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal hemorrhage and ischemia. Med Clin North Am. 2002 Nov;86(6):1357-99.

  16. Lee EW, Laberge JM. Differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol 2004; 7: 112-22

  18. Strate LL, Gralnek IM. ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Patients With Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016 Apr;111(4):459-74.

  19. Chaudhry V, Hyser MJ, Gracias VH, Gau FC. Colonoscopy: the initial test for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Am Surg. 1998 Aug;64(8):723-8.

  20. Cummings CL. Value of early capsular endoscopy for severe gastrointestinal bleeding. J Natl Med Assoc. 2004;96(12):1653-6.

  21. Appleyard M, Glukhovsky A, Swain P. Wireless-capsule diagnostic endoscopy for recurrent small-bowel bleeding. N Engl J Med. 2001;344(3):232-3.

  24. Lim JK, Ahmed A. Endoscopic approach to the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol. 2004 Sep;7(3):123-9.

  25. Nicholson AA, Ettles DF, Hartley JE, et al. Transcatheter coil embolotherapy: a safe and effective option for major colonic haemorrhage. Gut 1998; 43:79–84.

  26. Zuckier LS. Acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Semin Nucl Med. 2003 Oct;33(4):297-311.

  27. Imbembo AL, Diverticular disease of the colon. In: Sabiston D, Editor. Textbook of Surgery (14th edn). Philadelphia, PA:WB Saunders, 1992:910.

  29. Loffroy R, Rao P, Ota S, De Lin M, Kwak BK, Geschwind JF. Embolization of acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage resistant to endoscopic treatment: results and predictors of recurrent bleeding. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2010 Dec;33(6):1088-100. doi: 10.1007/s00270-010-9829-7. Epub 2010 Mar 16.

  31. Eriksson LG, Sundbom M, Gustavsson S, Nyman R. Endoscopic marking with a metallic clip facilitates transcatheter arterial embolization in upper peptic ulcer bleeding. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2006 Jun;17(6):959-64.

  32. Anthony S, Milburn S, Uberoi R. Multi-detector CT: review of its use in acute GI haemorrhage. Clin Radiol. 2007 Oct;62(10):938-49.

  33. Ernst O, Bulois P, Saint-Drenant S, Leroy C, Paris JC, Sergent G. Helical CT in acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Eur Radiol. 2003;13(1):114-7

  34. Mirsadraee S, Tirukonda P, Nicholson A, Everett SM, McPherson SJ. Embolization for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal tract haemorrhage: a systematic review. Clin Radiol 2011;66:500-509.

  35. Loffroy R, Guiu B, D'Athis P, Mezzetta L, Gagnaire A, Jouve JL, Ortega-Deballon P, Cheynel N, Cercueil JP, Krausé D. Arterial embolotherapy for endoscopically unmanageable acute gastroduodenal hemorrhage: predictors of early rebleeding. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009 May;7(5):515-23.

  36. Aina R, Oliva VL, Therasse E, et al. Arterial embolotherapy for upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: outcome assessment. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2001;12:195-200.

  37. Mirsadraee S, Tirukonda P, Nicholson A, Everett SM, McPherson SJ. Embolization for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal tract haemorrhage: a systematic review. Clin Radiol 2011;66:500-509.

  38. Loffroy R, Guiu B, Cercueil JP, Lepage C, Latournerie M, Hillon P, Rat P, Ricolfi F, Krausé D. Refractory bleeding from gastroduodenal ulcers: arterial embolization in high-operative-risk patients. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2008 Apr;42(4):361-7.

  39. Loffroy R, Guiu B, D'Athis P, Mezzetta L, Gagnaire A, Jouve JL, Ortega-Deballon P, Cheynel N, Cercueil JP, Krausé D. Arterial embolotherapy for endoscopically unmanageable acute gastroduodenal hemorrhage: predictors of early rebleeding. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009 May;7(5):515-23.

  40. Poultsides GA, Kim CJ, Orlando R 3rd, Peros G, Hallisey MJ, Vignati PV. Angiographic embolization for gastroduodenal hemorrhage: safety, efficacy, and predictors of outcome. Arch Surg 2008;143:457-461.

  42. Gordon RL, Ahl KL, Kerlan RK, Wilson MW, LaBerge JM, Sandhu JS, Ring EJ, Welton ML. Selective arterial embolization for the control of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Am J Surg. 1997;174(1):24-8.

  43. Funaki B, Kostelic JK, Lorenz J, Ha TV, Yip DL, Rosenblum JD, et al. Superselective microcoil embolization of colonic hemorrhage. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2001;177:829-836 7.

  44. Bandi R, Shetty PC, Sharma RP, Burke TH, Burke MW, Kastan D. Superselective arterial embolization for the treatment of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2001;12:1399-1405.

  45. Maleux G, Roeflaer F, Heye S, Vandersmissen J, Vliegen AS, Demedts I, et al. Long-term outcome of transcatheter embolotherapy for acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Am J Gastroenterol 2009;104:2042-2046

  46. Leitman IM, Paull DE, Shires GT 3rd. Evaluation and management of massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Ann Surg 1989;209:175-180

  47. Rosenkrantz H, Bookstein JJ, Rosen RJ, Goff WB 2nd, Healy JF. Postembolic colonic infarction. Radiology 1982;142:47-51.

  48. Koh DC, Luchtefeld MA, Kim DG, Knox MF, Fedeson BC, Vanerp JS, et al. Efficacy of transarterial embolization as definitive treatment in lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Colorectal Dis 2009;11:53-59

  49. Lipof T, Sardella WV, Bartus CM, Johnson KH, Vignati PV, Cohen JL. The efficacy and durability of super-selective embolization in the treatment of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Dis Colon Rectum 2008;51:301-305

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The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information is implied. No liability is accepted for errors, omissions or inadequacies in the information contained herein or for interpretations thereof. The reader assumes sole responsibility for the selection of these materials to achieve its intended results. The opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.

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