[Nonsurgical therapy of abdominal and retroperitoneal abscesses]

From 1976 to March 1987 intraabdominal or retroperitoneal abscesses were confirmed by ultrasound in 40 patients. 13 patients had surgical drainage with zero-mortality. 3 of 27 patients were treated with antibiotics (only systemically). 24 patients were treated by percutaneous catheter drainage or needle aspiration. Elective cholecystectomy was performed later in 3 patients. Nonsurgical treatment was successful in 22/27 cases. 3 patients died despite percutaneous drainage. Failure of percutaneous drainage required surgical intervention in 3 patients. The considerably poorer primary condition of the patients receiving nonsurgical treatment allows no comparison with the surgical group. Advantages of percutaneous drainage and needle aspiration are a high success rate and low mortality. These techniques can be used even in critically ill persons.