Objective: To describe our experience with transrectal drainage of deep abdominal or pelvic abscesses guided by ultrasonography and fluoroscopy.
Design: Open study.
Setting: Teaching hospital, Sweden.
Subjects: Eight seriously ill patients with deep abdominal or pelvic abscesses.
Intervention: Ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic transrectal drainage.
Main outcome measures: Clinical follow-up.
Results: Eight patients (2 septic, 2 with high fever, and 2 with moderate fever) were effectively and safely drained without general anaesthesia. Their condition improved considerably within hours after drainage. Three patients had recurrent abscesses as a result of the underlying disease. The drainage overcame the sepsis in two patients and allowed a later elective operation.
Conclusions: Transrectal ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic drainage is an effective and safe method for treatment of deep abdominal or pelvic abscesses in seriously ill patients.