Etiology, treatment options and prognosis of abdominal abscesses: A tertiary hospital experience

The principle of abdominal abscess treatment is drenage. However, whether this drainage is percutaneous or open surgery is the choice of the specialist or center. Recently, there have been reports indicating that percutaneous drainage is superior. In this study, patients followed up and treated in a ten-year period in our clinic were evaluated for both of the methods that we applied.

Cases of intra-abdominal abscess followed-up in a ten-year period were evaluated retrospectively. As well as some of the characteristics of the patients, the methods of drainage applied were recorded. The subjects who received percutaneous drainage and those undergoing open surgery were compared in terms of length of hospitalization, length of treatment and prognosis.

The most common abscess site was intraperitoneal, and the origins of the abscesses were often hospital-based. The most commonly isolated organism, at a level of 33.8%, was Escherichia coli. Percutaneous drainage was applied at source control in 49 (43.8%) patients and open surgery drainage in 60 (53.6%). However, length of hospitalization, length of treatment and duration of drainage catheter use were statistically significantly higher in the percutaneous drainage group. No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of prognosis.

We attribute these results in disagreement with the literature to more patients being recommended for percutaneous drainage due to the fact that these patients were thought to be incapable of tolerating open surgery and to the higher probability of additional disease and complications.