Nonsurgical drainage of appendiceal abscesses

Area of Science:

• Medical imaging and interventional radiology
• Gastroenterology and surgical oncology

Background:

• Appendicitis frequently leads to intra-abdominal abscess formation, a serious complication.
• Traditional management often involves surgical drainage, potentially followed by interval appendectomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous catheter drainage for appendiceal abscesses.
• To determine if percutaneous drainage can obviate the need for interval appendectomy.

Main Methods:

• Percutaneous catheter drainage was employed in five patients with appendiceal abscesses.
• The procedure was used as the sole initial drainage method in three patients and after incomplete surgical drainage in two.

Main Results:

• All five patients were successfully treated with catheter drainage.
• No interval appendectomy was required for any patient.
• The percutaneous procedure was associated with no complications.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous catheter drainage is a viable and safe alternative to surgical management of appendiceal abscesses.
• This approach can potentially prevent the need for subsequent interval appendectomy.