[Postoperative complications: the value of sonography for their diagnosis and therapy]

The final diagnosis of a retroperitoneal abscess is made, on the average, 3--17 weeks after the first appearance of uncertain clinical symptoms. The accuracy of sonography for the recognition of postoperative complications such as hematoma, urine extravasation, abscesses or lymphoceles is 78--86%. In addition to computer tomography, sonography is the only diagnostic method available for early recognition of retroperitoneal processes. Ultrasonically guided puncture is used to confirm the diagnosis. If left in place, the puncture serves simultaneously as a urinary extravasation drainage.