[Sonography and computed tomography in postoperative abdominal abscesses]

After abdominal surgery there is a 1.3% incidence of early relaparatomy. Peritonitis is the most frequent underlying disease, with a mortality rate of 58%, if treatment is attempted by explorative surgery. On the basis of 24 postoperative abdominal abscesses out of 1023 laparatomies during an 18-month period sonography and CT scanning proved to be most accurate in detecting postoperative inflammatory lesions despite the lack of specific criteria. Thus, both methods reduce the risks of relaparatomy by facilitating the surgical approach on the one hand, and on the other hand, they alternatively provide the possibility of percutaneous puncture or drainage.