[Conservative treatment of post-appendectomy abscesses].

The standard form of treatment for an abscess in the abdominal cavity is surgical drainage. We present a prospective study of 626 patients under the age of ten who underwent appendectomy. The antibiotic prophylaxis consists of cefoxitin and ampicillin. Postoperative intra-abdominal abscess were found in 1.4% of the patients who were then treated with antibiotics (metronidazole plus amicacin). Following this course of treatment, of the nine abscess, 4 required no surgical drainage, and progressed favourably as shown by the clinical controls and ultrasonography (US). In 3 patients, percutaneous drainage was performed and controlled by US. This paper shows that antibiotic therapy is a useful alternative in the treatment of postappendectomy intraabdominal abscess.