[Minimally invasive treatment of abscesses by CT-controlled drainage with a basket catheter system].

PURPOSE

To examine whether the percutaneous drainage of abscess formations by a new basket catheter system is usefull.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

58 patients with abscesses in different locations and origins have been treated by an interventional radiologic procedure. On the whole 77 basket-catheters were placed under CT-guidance into abscess formations of different size and localization. 36 patients developed an abscess after surgery, two patients achieved abscess drainage after embolisation of a tumor. In 20 patients the abscess was a complication of a septic infectious disease.

RESULTS

Open surgery was avoided in 41/58 patients of these patients 9/41 received only percutaneous drainage and 32/41 patients suffering from illness were given antibiotic medication according to the resistogram in combination with percutaneous drainage. 17/58 patients required secondary surgery but with a lower risk because of the smaller abscess volume and the better clinical constitution after percutaneous drainage.

CONCLUSIONS

A minimally invasive management of abscesses using a basket-catheter system is successful even in localisations deep inside the body and hard to reach. An irreversible catheter occlusion followed by the implantation of a new catheter system could be avoided in all patients.