Management of intra-abdominal abscess due to surgical site infection

Intra-abdominal abscesses are one of the major complications that occur after Gastrointestinal Surgery. Therapeutic modalities include drainage and irrigation. This study describes the development of a new drainage and continuous irrigation system that results in less skin irritation and reduced dressing changes. This system involved the use of the Surgidrain open top (ALCARE, Tokyo, Japan), which consists of a sealing sheet with a drainage lumen and plastic cap. A double-lumen tube was inserted into the abscess cavity through a slit in the plastic cap. The abscess cavity could, therefore, be irrigated continuously through one lumen of the double-lumen tube, and most of the fluid could be drained through the second lumen of the double-lumen tube. Overflow fluid was drained through the Surgidrain open top drainage lumen. This system enabled better protection against skin complications and the ability to easily flush the abscess intermittently.