Percutaneous drainage of abscesses in the postoperative abdomen that is difficult to explore

Novel Uses of Lumen-apposing Metal Stents: A Review of the Literature

The field of therapeutic endoscopy has seen many recent advancements. One such emerging field is the use of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS). Although a few LAMS have been developed, the most commonly reviewed and the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved LAMS is the Axios stent by Boston Scientific. In 2013, LAMS were initially approved by the FDA for the management of pancreatic fluid collection drainage in the presence walled-off necrosis. Pancreatic fluid collections are traditionally drained with either a plastic stent or a covered biliary self-expanding metal stent. Plastic stents have a double pigtail feature which prevents stent migration. However, their narrow lumen poses limitations as it can lead to early stent occlusion. Fully covered metal stents have larger diameters, allowing improved drainage and decreased stent occlusion but their tubular shape is prone to migration. Consequently, this results in leakage, and frequent retrievals. Over the years, due to their versatility, LAMS now have many off label uses. This includes management of gastric outlet obstruction, superior mesenteric artery syndrome, strictures, gallbladder drainage, and postsurgical collection drainage. In this review, we will be discussing the FDA approved and the nonapproved uses of LAMS.

Intra-Abdominal Abscesses: Emphasis on Image-Guided Diagnosis and Therapy

Infection of the peritoneal cavity can be divided into acute peritonitis and chronic abscess formation. While acute peritonitis is easier to diagnose and treatment is often straightforward, the diagnosis of an intra-abdominal abscess can be subtle and treatment can involve multiple diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. The advent of high-quality computed tomography and ultrasonography has revolutionized the care of these patients, and has allowed for the definitive management of these infections without open operation. We review the current techniques for the diagnosis, localization, and treatment of these serious infections, discuss important factors influencing the decision between percutaneous and operative approaches, and examine several other controversies In this challenging area.

CT-Guided Percutaneous Drainage and Fluid Aspiration in Intensive Care Patients

Fifty-two intensive care unit (ICU) patients with clinical signs of sepsis who were considered to be at extremely high risk for operation were subjected to CT-guided interventions. Bedside ultrasound (US) had been performed prior to CT in all patients but diagnoses were equivocal or US-guided interventions had failed. Nineteen patients solely underwent CT-guided diagnostic aspiration of fluid collections to rule out infection. Eighteen patients (72%) with abscess formations after surgery or trauma were cured by catheter drainage alone; 4 patients required additional surgery. Out of 8 patients suffering from acute pancreatitis (after several necrosectomies), abscesses could be cured in 5 (62.5%). Three patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (no surgery) were not cured by the interventional procedure and all required surgical debridement. Even patients who required additional surgery after drainage improved clinically after the interventional radiologic procedure. Our overall success rate was 64%, emphasizing the need for CT in the case of equivocal US results or if US-guided procedures have failed in ICU patients with signs of sepsis.

Percutaneous Drainage of Postoperative Abdominal Abscess with Limited Accessibility: Preexisting Surgical Drains as Alternative Access Route

PURPOSE

To retrospectively assess the effectiveness and safety of postoperative percutaneous drainage of abdominal abscesses with limited accessibility by using a preexisting surgical drain as an access route.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was approved by the institutional review board, and informed consent was not required. The authors reviewed the medical records of 92 patients (62 male, 30 female; median age, 59 years; age range, 3-79 years) with postoperative abdominal abscesses in whom percutaneous drainage was performed by using surgical drains as an access. Factors evaluated included the location and size of the lesion; time between surgery and the drainage procedure; distance between the lesion and surgical drain; presence of fistula; duration of drainage; type of surgical drain; size, type, and length of drainage catheter; and complications. Technical success was defined as adequate placement of a new drainage catheter into the target abscess. Midterm success was defined as avoidance of surgery or additional percutaneous drainage during the 6 months of follow-up. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed to determine factors that affected the technical or midterm success of the procedure.

RESULTS

Of 92 postoperative abscesses for which the technique was attempted, 56 (61%) had a subphrenic location and 36 (39%) had a peripancreatic location. Technical success was achieved in 87 of the 92 patients (95%). Technical success was not significantly associated with any of the factors tested. Midterm success was achieved in 75 of the 87 patients (86%) in whom technical success was achieved. Midterm failure showed a statistically significant relationship with the presence of fistula (P = .04). No procedure-related complications were identified.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous drainage by using the surgical drain as an access route is an effective and safe alternative for draining postoperative abdominal abscesses that are less accessible with direct puncture..

Gas Distribution in Intraabdominal and Pelvic Abscesses on CT Is Associated with Drainability

OBJECTIVE

Intraabdominal and pelvic abscesses are treated by percutaneous image-guided drainage, under sedation or general anesthesia. This study attempts to determine if the CT features of gas distribution are associated with "drainability." Our premise was that gas may be trapped deep in a collection as bubbles, if the material is thick. Gas may rise to the surface if the material is thin, forming either an air-fluid level or superficial bubbles.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with intraabdominal and pelvic abscesses were identified by the interventional radiology database, after research ethics board approval. Patients without prior CT were excluded. The imaging and clinical records were analyzed retrospectively. Intracollection gas distribution was recorded as superficial bubbles, deep bubbles, or air-fluid levels. Collections were classified accordingly: type 1, air-fluid levels; type 2, superficial or deep bubbles and air-fluid levels; type 3, superficial bubbles; type 4, deep bubbles; and type 5, no gas.

RESULTS

One hundred five abscesses were examined in 61 patients, ranging in age from 2-17 years. Eight of 8 of type 1, 16 of 16 of type 2, 19 of 21 of type 3, 8 of 13 of type 4, and 43 of 47 of type 5 were drainable. The abscesses of all patients with an air-fluid level were drainable. Of abscesses with deep bubbles, 61.5% were drainable, versus 90.5% of those with superficial bubbles. Of those with superficial gas (superficial bubbles or air-fluid levels), 95.6% were drainable. In comparison with superficial gas, abscesses with deep trapped gas were associated with a longer duration of drainage, longer hospital stay, lower percentage of successful drainage, and higher percentage of residual collections. The difference is significant for drainability (p = 0.0048; p = 0.0331 after statistical adjustment for multiple testing).

CONCLUSION

Distribution of gas in an intraabdominal or pelvic abscess is associated with drainability. Abscesses with superficial gas (superficial bubbles or air-fluid levels) have a greater chance of being drained successfully than do abscesses with deep trapped gas.

Can failure of percutaneous drainage of postoperative abdominal abscesses be predicted?

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous drainage (PD) of complex postoperative abscesses associated with a variety of factors such as multiple location or enteric fistula remains a matter of debate. Accordingly, this retrospective study was designed to determine the predictive factors for failure of PD of postoperative abscess, in order to better select the patients who may benefit from PD.

METHODS

From 1992 to 2000, the data of 73 patients who underwent computed tomography (CT)-guided PD for postoperative intra-abdominal abscess, were reviewed. PD was considered as failure when clinical sepsis persisted or subsequent surgery was needed. The possible association between failure of PD and 27 patient-, abscess-, surgical-, and drainage-related variables were assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Successful PD was achieved in 59 of 73 (81%) patients. The overall mortality was 3% but no patient died after salvage surgery. Multivariate analysis showed that only an abscess diameter of less than 5 cm (P = 0.042) and absence of antibiotic therapy (P = 0.01) were significant predictive variables for failure of PD.

CONCLUSIONS

CT-guided PD associated with antibiotic therapy could be attempted as the initial treatment of postoperative abdominal abscesses even in complex cases such as loculated abscess or abscess associated with enteric fistula.

Interventional and surgical treatment of pancreatic abscess

Pancreatic abscess is one of the infectious complications of acute pancreatitis. It is a collection principally containing pus, but it may also contain variable amounts of semisolid necrotic debris. Most of these abscesses evolve from the progressive liquefaction of necrotic pancreatic and peripancreatic tissues, but some arise from infection of peripancreatic fluid or collections elsewhere in the peritoneal cavity. Included also are abscesses found after surgical débridement and drainage of pancreatic necrosis. Although open surgical treatment of infected necrosis is the established treatment of choice, percutaneous drainage of abscesses is successful in some circumstances. We used percutaneous catheter drainage in 39 patients during 1987-1995. Only 9 of 29 (31%) attempts at primary therapy were successful; 2 patients died, and 18 required subsequent surgical drainage. On the other hand, 14 of 14 patients with recurrent or residual abscesses after surgical drainage were successfully drained percutaneously. Percutaneous catheter drainage of pancreatic abscesses may be useful for initial stabilization of septic patients, drainage of further abscesses after surgical intervention (especially when access for reoperation will be difficult), associated abscesses remote from the pancreas, and selected unilocular collections at a sufficient interval after necrotizing pancreatitis to have allowed essentially complete liquefaction.

Computerized tomographic scan-guided drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses. Preoperative and postoperative modalities in colon and rectal surgery

PURPOSE

Computerized tomographic (CT) scan-guided percutaneous drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses has changed the colon and rectal surgeon's approach to preoperative and postoperative intra-abdominal infections. This study is an effort to prove the efficacy of CT scan-guided percutaneous drainage.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed on 133 patients who underwent CT scan drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses over a 6.3-year period.

RESULTS

67 patients had underlying lower gastrointestinal disease. Twenty-three of these patients (34 percent) had spontaneous abscesses and underwent drainage as a preoperative or final modality, whereas 44 patients (66 percent) were drained postoperatively. In 78 percent of patients, surgery was successfully avoided or delayed. Ten patients had acute diverticulitis associated with a large pelvic abscess. Eight patients underwent successful CT scan-guided percutaneous drainage, yielding an 80 percent success rate. Morbidity from the CT scan-guided percutaneous drainage procedure in spontaneous and postoperative groups was 0 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Mortality was 9 percent and 11 percent, respectively, and associated with an elevated Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score.

CONCLUSION

CT scan-guided percutaneous drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses is an important adjunct to colon and rectal surgery because roughly 80 percent of spontaneous and postoperative abscesses were successfully managed.

Percutaneous abscess and fluid drainage: a critical review

Pertinent radiologic and surgical literature regarding abscess drainage was reviewed. Noted is the heterogeneity of disorders categorized as abscesses, and the variety of therapeutic approaches presently available. Specific abscesses are discussed based on body location and/or associated organ system.

[X-ray computed tomography and percutaneous drainage change the indications for reoperation after digestive surgery]

In order to assess the major clinical biological and radiological signs of an intra-abdominal abscess following digestive surgery as well as the place of automatic reoperation, this retrospective study analysed 79 patients requiring intensive therapy for such a complication since 1982. Surgery consisted in oesophagectomy (n = 38), hepatectomy or cholecystectomy (n = 12), pancreatic surgery (n = 17) and colectomy (n = 12). A postoperative abdominal abscess was recognized in 75 patients consisting in intrathoracic or intra-abdominal oesophageal fistulas (n = 31), pancreatic abscesses and fistulas (n = 17), peri- or intrahepatic abscesses (n = 11), colonic fistulas (n = 12) and acalculous cholecystitis. With regard to the intensity of symptomatology the patients have been allocated into 2 groups. In group I, including 12 patients, the infectious syndrome occurred early (3 first postoperative days), was severe and associated with positive blood cultures in 60% of cases. The patients were reoperated without previous CT-scanography. Four died postoperatively. In group II, including 67 patients, the symptomatology was more discrete. CT-scanography was highly beneficial, with discovery of an abscess in 90% of cases. In 20 patients, the abscess has been punctured and drained successfully by percutaneous route. In 6 patients with negative CT-scanography, an automatic reoperation resulted in the discovery of an abscess in 2 cases. Five out of 6 of these patients died postoperatively. It is concluded that in case of intraabdominal complication following digestive surgery: a) in case of early and severe symptomatology, a rapid reoperation is mandatory; b) CT-scanography has a high diagnostic value for abscess recognition in patients with discrete and delayed symptomatology; c) nearly one third of the abscesses can be treated successfully by percutaneous drainage; d) the value of automatic reoperations remains unsubstantiated.

"Conservative" treatment of intra-abdominal complications after total gastrectomy with interventional radiological techniques

Septic complications following total gastrectomy usually require relaparotomy, which is associated with a high operative mortality. Due to the improvement of percutaneous drainage of abdominal abscesses we prefer this therapy for septic complications after total gastrectomy. Among 141 total gastrectomies, 14 patients developed subphrenic abscesses. While 2 patients required relaparotomy, 12 had interventional therapy by sonographically guided drainage and insertion of a pigtail catheter. The catheters were irrigated daily, and the patients received systemic antibiotics. Complete resolution of the abscess cavity was achieved, even in 1 case with simultaneous duodenal stump insufficiency without increasing morbidity. The hospital stay was prolonged for an average of 20 days by this "conservative" treatment. The management of septic complications following total gastrectomy with interventional techniques may reduce the number of operative reinterventions. The indication for such a therapy, however, needs to be evaluated on an individual basis.

Status of percutaneous catheter drainage of abscesses

The definitive role of catheter drainage in the therapy of abscesses has not yet been totally elucidated. The resolution rate of intra-abdominal infection with catheter drainage is highly variable, depending on the inclusion criteria employed. Certain infections are very effectively treated (i.e., abscesses that are single, not communicating with abdominal viscera, noncancerous, and bacterial) with simple catheter drainage, whereas others (i.e., infected pancreatic tumor phlegmon) prove to be much more resistant to simple catheter drainage. When all intra-abdominal "abscesses" are collected, the success of catheter drainage ranges from 47 per cent to 73 per cent. The wide variation should be seen not so much as a reflection of differences in technical ability of the radiologist to introduce a catheter, but rather as emblematic of the highly variable nature of the cause of intra-abdominal infection and the definition of an abscess. Hospitals with a large number of complex problems such as malignancy, transplant and other immunosuppressed patients, and referrals of patients with complex long-standing intra-abdominal infections are likely to have a much lower rate of success with percutaneously placed catheters than are those institutions that derive their series from post-traumatic or primary diseases such as appendiceal or diverticular disease. In the former series, a higher morbidity and mortality rate would be expected from any form of treatment when compared to a series from a practice based on more primary care problems. Intra-abdominal infections are a heterogeneous set of processes, and the role of interventional radiology in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach cannot be underestimated. In planning for the care of a patient with a presumed intra-abdominal infectious process, percutaneous aspiration of a fluid mass is an effective tool for establishing the diagnosis of an abscess. The brief introduction of a catheter has rarely led to contamination of an otherwise sterile collection. However, it often effects dramatic symptomatic relief if the fluid collection is infected. It has therefore been an evolving recommendation to employ the techniques of interventional radiology aggressively in a diagnostic capacity. Subsequently, therapeutic interventions can be undertaken in joint agreement among the physician, surgeon, and radiologist. The diagnosis and treatment of intra-abdominal infections can often times be carried out in a relatively easy and non-morbid manner that effects cure in a significant percentage of patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Intra-abdominal abscess in the 1980s

Prompt recognition, early localization, and adequate drainage have contributed to the decreased morbidity and mortality rates associated with intra-abdominal abscess in the last decade. The physical examination, ultrasonography, computed tomography, and radionuclide scans provide information that leads to early detection and localization of abscess in almost all patients. Percutaneous drainage should be the initial procedure unless specific indications for surgery exist.

Extended applications of ultrasonography by the surgeon. A preliminary report

The application of ultrasonography by surgeons in hospitalized patients and the potential benefits thereof were evaluated in 52 patients. Ultrasonography was used to diagnose emergent conditions in 30 patients, nonemergent conditions in 16 patients, and as a guide for interventional procedures in 6 patients. The procedure was carried out by a specially trained member of the surgical team, thus providing use of the technique as required. In assessing the degree of reliability of ultrasonography for surgical decision-making, it was found to be helpful in arriving at a decision in 47 patients, not helpful in 3 patients, and misleading in 2 patients in whom results were misinterpreted. The use of ultrasonography by the surgical team may help to provide early diagnosis, and thus may shorten the delay in necessary surgical intervention. It can also serve as a guide during interventional procedures and thereby can increase their safety and accuracy. We believe that the ability to carry out and interpret ultrasonographic tests is a helpful addition to the surgeon's armamentarium.