ACUTE PUERPERAL BREAST ABSCESSES - US-GUIDED DRAINAGE

Breast abscesses typically develop in lactating women. The recommended treatment is surgical incision and drainage with the patient under ge neral anesthesia. Ultrasonically guided percutaneous drainage with loc al anesthesia was performed in 19 consecutive patients referred for tr eatment because of clinical signs of acute puerperal breast abscess. E ighteen of the 19 patients (95%) were successfully treated. Long-term follow-up (median, 12 months) did not show any recurrences, and the co smetic results were excellent. Eight of the 19 patients (42%) continue d nursing during and after treatment. Ten of the 19 (53%) were treated on an outpatient basis. On the basis of these results, the authors re commend ultrasonically guided percutaneous treatment for use in patien ts with acute puerperal breast abscesses.