[Percutaneous CT-guided catheter drainage of intrathoracic fluid accumulations]

To verify the value of percutaneous CT-guided drainage of thoracic fluid collections we studied the outcome in 39 patients retrospectively. 24 (61.5%) of the fluid collections were located in the pleural space, 10 (25.6%) in the lungs and 5 (12.8%) in the mediastinum. 11 CT-guided drainages after a previous attempt were necessary in 9 patients, because of recurrent (n = 6) or residual (n = 5) fluid collections. 70% of the drainage procedures were done using Seldinger's, 30% using trocar technique, mainly with 8.3-12 F catheters. The mean duration of drainage was 10.7 days. In 28 patients (71.8%) the percutaneous CT-guided drainage was curative. In 9 cases (23.1%) the patient's course was stabilised and surgery could be applied electively. 2 patients (5.1%) died because of their underlying end-stage malignancy. None of the drainage procedures changed the patient's course to the worse. There was only 1 pneumothorax with no need of any treatment; no other complication occurred. Our results suggest that percutaneous CT-guided drainage of thoracic fluid collections is a safe and straightforward alternative to surgical treatment.