Percutaneous drainage of postoperative intraabdominal abscesses.

Twenty-two major intraabdominal abscesses in 19 postoperative patients were drained percutaneously using cross-sectional imaging techniques (computed tomography and sonography) for localization. Sixteen lesions were cured in 14 patients without reexploration. All patients were palliated by the percutaneous drainage procedure. All 22 abscess cavities were entered without complication or compromise of adjacent normal organs. Percutaneous abscess drainage is recommended as a safe, effective method of treating a major intraabdominal abscess in the postoperative patient.