COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHIC SCAN-GUIDED DRAINAGE OF INTRAABDOMINAL ABSCESSES - PREOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE MODALITIES IN COLON AND RECTAL SURGERY

PURPOSE: Computerized tomographic (CT) scan-guided percutaneous draina ge of intra-abdominal abscesses has changed the colon and rectal surge on's approach to preoperative and postoperative intra-abdominal infect ions. This study is an effort to prove the efficacy of CT scan-guided percutaneous drainage. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 133 patients who underwent CT scan drainage of intra-abdominal absces ses over a 6.3-year period. RESULTS: 67 patients had underlying lower gastrointestinal disease. Twenty-three of these patients (34 percent) had spontaneous abscesses and underwent drainage as a preoperative or final modality, whereas 44 patients (66 percent) were drained postoper atively. In 78 percent of patients, surgery was successfully avoided o r delayed. Ten patients had acute diverticulitis associated with a lar ge pelvic abscess. Eight patients underwent successful CT scan-guided percutaneous drainage, yielding an 80 percent success rate. Morbidity from the CT scan-guided percutaneous drainage procedure in spontaneous and postoperative groups was 0 percent and 9 percent, respectively. M ortality was 9 percent and 11 percent, respectively, and associated wi th an elevated Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APAC HE II) score. CONCLUSION: CT scan-guided percutaneous drainage of intr a-abdominal abscesses is an important adjunct to colon and rectal surg ery because roughly 80 percent of spontaneous and postoperative absces ses were successfully managed.