Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Drainage of Abdominal Collections—An Analysis over 5 Years

Introduction. Ultrasound-guided (US-guided) percutaneous drainage (PD) of abdominal collections represents the first-choice alternative to surgical intervention. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy and safety of PD of visceral and non-visceral abdominal collections by reviewing our personal experience over a period of 5 years. Material and methods. The present study included 66 patients who underwent PD under ultrasound guidance. We analyzed clinical variables (collection size, catheter diameter, collection type, microbiological analysis, antibiotic regimens) along with the outcomes of the procedure. Results. Visceral collections were predominant, encompassing 38 hepatic abscesses and 1 splenic hematoma. Microbiological analysis showed that the majority (54%) were monomicrobial. The most encountered pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Technical success was achieved in all cases and clinical success was observed in 84.6% of the cases. No immediate procedural complications were detected. There were 6 patients who needed reinterventions, either by catheter replacement or by surgical treatment. The mortality rate was 4.5%, due to patients’ poor overall status and oncological comorbidities. Conclusions. Percutaneous drainage under ultrasound guidance is a safe and effective procedure in the management of abdominal collections.