US-guided transvaginal drainage of pelvic abscesses and fluid collections

Article Abstract:

Pelvic abscesses can occur as a complication of surgery or as a result of some diseases. The abscesses, pockets of infected material, must be drained, preferably by placing a catheter into the abscess guided by a needle. The needle is usually inserted through the peritoneum (the abdominal cavity) or the rectum with computed tomography (CT), a scanning X-ray technique used for guidance. Both routes for inserting the needle can be problematic. Another possible route in women is through the vagina. Ultrasound (US) imaging, which uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of internal organs, has proved to be superior over CT in visualizing the vaginal area. This study examined the use of US-guided transvaginal drainage in the treatment of pelvic abscesses. A needle alone or with a catheter was inserted into the pelvic abscesses of 14 women. The needle was inserted through the vagina and guided into position by using US imaging. Drainage was completed successfully and no operations were required in 11 patients. For two patients, drainage was successful but surgery still had to be performed. One patient only underwent the procedure for diagnostic purposes. Catheters were kept in place and average of 6.7 days. No major complications developed as a result of the procedure. These results indicate that US-guided transvaginal drainage is a safe and useful procedure for treating pelvic abscesses. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Ultrasound imaging, Pelvis, Abscess

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Lung abscess: CT-guided drainage

Article Abstract:

Lung abscesses (pus-filled pockets in the lungs) are often a result of pneumonia and are associated with a mortality ranging from 9.3 to 28 percent. Standard treatment involves antibiotics and drainage to assist the cough mechanism. If this fails, a bronchoscope is used to clear the lungs, and as a final resort surgery is performed. Recent attempts have been made to use computed tomography (CT) to guide catheters in removing abscesses in the lungs. CT is a X-ray scanning technique that uses a computer to generate accurate pictures of the organ being scanned. This study examined the results of this technique used on 19 patients who had lung abscesses that required draining. The abscesses were successfully drained in all 19 patients, with clinical improvement seen in 18 of them within 48 hours. Sixteen of the patients required no surgery in the end. The results showed this technique to be quite useful in treating lung abscesses that are not treatable with antibiotics. This technique was also shown to be an important alternative to surgery, which is more complicated and dangerous. A major question still remains on the safety of using catheters, as they might injure healthy lung tissue. Further research on the use of catheters of various sizes is necessary to answer this question. However, initial results indicate this technique is safe and effective in draining lung abscesses. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Lungs, CT imaging, CAT scans, Lung diseases, Lung abscess

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