[Ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage of intraperitoneal fluid collections. An experience of a surgical team with 205 patients].

Percutaneous drainage has become, during the last ten years, the treatment of choice of abdominal abscesses. From January 1986 to January 1990, 205 patients have been treated in our department for an abdominal collection. In this prospective work we have realised percutaneous drainage in every patients who would have been operated, according to the classical indications. In 28 patients (acute cholecystitis), the indication has been elective because of the surgical risk, depending to the age (mean 80 years). We have treated 67 intra abdominal collections (34 post operative), 39 pseudocysts of the pancreas, 40 liver collections (18 abscesses); and we have done 37 biliary drainages. 15% of the patients showed communication of the collection with the digestive tract. Mortality was less than 5%. Half of these deaths occurred during the evolution of necrotic pancreatitis. 78% of the patients have been cured by the percutaneous drain. The other patients have been operated upon but the drainage facilitated the operation. In our experience percutaneous drainage is a secure technique and every abdominal surgeon would be able to practice this technique.