Percutaneous needle aspiration of neonatal lung abscesses

Three premature infants (mean gestational age 27 weeks) ranging in age from 3 to 11 weeks, were treated for lung abscesses, with a combination of antibiotics and percutaneous needle aspiration under either ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance. Antibiotics, to which microorganisms cultured from aspirated pus were sensitive, were continued for a further period of two weeks, with no relapse in any of the patients. The lung abscesses resolved in all cases without the need for catheter drainage or surgery. In conclusion, needle aspiration under either ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance is a simple and effective diagnostic and therapeutic method of managing neonatal lung abscesses. Its early use allows selection of the most appropriate antibiotics and may hasten recovery, prevent further complications and obviate the need for surgery. The use of a drainage catheter does not appear to be necessary for resolution of the abscesses. The procedure appears reasonably safe, since complications arising from the procedure were benign.