Ultrasound-guided interventional procedures in splenic abscesses

The results of ultrasound (US)-guided interventional procedures over a period of 12 years in 21 consecutive patients with splenic abscess were reviewed. The interventional procedures were done with 21- or 18-gauge needles for aspiration of relatively small abscesses (< 3.5 cm) in eight patients and with an 8.3-9.0 French pigtail catheter for continuous drainage in 13 patients with larger abscesses (> or = 3.5 cm). In some patients, multiple abscesses were treated separately according to their various sizes. More than one catheterization were done in three patients because of detached catheter or recurrent abscesses. The interventional procedures were followed by at least eight weeks of appropriate antibiotic therapy. Only one patient had the complication of minimal subcapsular hematoma which needed no further treatment. All the patients had uneventful clinical courses. US-guided interventional procedure proved to be a treatment-of-choice for splenic abscess, and may avoid splenectomy by conserving the spleen.