Percutaneous drainage of 250 abdominal abscesses and fluid collections. Part I: Results, failures, and complications.

The results of 250 percutaneous abscess and fluid drainage procedures are summarized. In 209 cases, operation was avoided and the patients were cured (83.6%). Partial success was achieved in 18 of 41 recurrences and failures; in these patients, operation was necessary, although the patient benefited from the percutaneous drainage. Cures and partial successes totaled 227/250 (90.8%). Noninfected collections were successfully drained in 31/43 cases. There were 21 failures (8.4%) and 20 recurrences (8%). These were most often due to fistulae, phlegmons, organized tissue, or underlying tumor. Twenty-six patients experienced complications (10.4%), seven of which were major (2.8%). Analysis and corrective measures for these problems (failure, recurrence, complication) and intraprocedural difficulties are discussed.