Laparoscopic drainage of postoperative complicated intra-abdominal abscesses

Intra-abdominal abscess, which carries significant rates of death and compl ications, may complicate the postoperative course. Treatment options includ e percutaneous needle aspiration, placement of an external drain under ultr asonic guidance, or surgical drainage, depending on the size, site, and nat ure (simple or complicated) of the abscess. Laparoscopic drainage may be a treatment option. A retrospective review of patients who underwent laparosc opic drainage of postoperative complicated intraabdominal abscesses at the authors' institution from January 1997 to July 1999 was performed. Seven pa tients had complicated intra-abdominal abscesses 7 to 17 (mean 11) days aft er their initial operation. All abscesses were successfully drained by lapa roscopy. The mean operative time was 64 minutes. There were no intraoperati ve or postoperative complications. The postoperative analgesic requirement was minimal. The suction drain was removed on average 5 days after laparosc opy, and the mean hospital stay was 6 days. There was no recurrence of symp toms at a mean follow-up of 23 months. Laparoscopic drainage, in combinatio n with systemic antibiotics, is a safe and effective treatment option in pa tients with postoperative complicated intraabdominal abscesses.