Radiographically guided percutaneous catheter drainage of pleural fluid collections

We reviewed the outcome of guided percutaneous catheter drainage of pleural fluid collections in 18 patients over a 5-year period. Catheter positioning was guided by fluoroscopy in 10 (56%) cases, CT in seven (39%), and sonography in one (6%). Included were 16 patients with empyemas and one each with a sterile hematoma and transudate. In nine of the patients, previous surgical chest tube drainage had been unsuccessful. The majority of collections were treated with a 12- or 14-French catheter and closed underwater seal drainage. Twelve (80%) of the 15 patients who had an adequate trial of guided drainage were cured. Propyliodone oil suspension contrast sinography after catheter placement showed two clinically unsuspected bronchopleural fistulas. Although an extensive multilocular pleural collection was a contraindication to percutaneous catheter drainage, the thick fibrous peel of a chronic empyema was not. Drainage of pleural fluid collections with radiographic guidance ensures proper catheter placement and is successful in a high percentage of cases.     

Percutaneous aspiration and drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts

Twenty-five patients with pancreatic pseudocysts had therapeutic intervention procedures that included diagnostic aspiration, short-term drainage (aspiration until completely drained), and long-term catheter drainage. Diagnostic aspirations were used to classify the pseudocysts as infected or noninfected. Short-term drainage was performed on six pseudocysts (two infected and four noninfected) with little success. One resolved and five recurred. Fifteen pseudocysts were treated by long-term catheter drainage. Eight of these (four infected and four noninfected) resolved after initial long-term drainage; two others resolved after additional drainage. The cure rate in these 15 patients was 67%. The other five patients were treated surgically after they had been stabilized but not cured by percutaneous drainage. Complications were few and uniformly minor except for one pneumothorax. Percutaneous aspiration should be used in the diagnosis of pancreatic fluid collections. In noninfected pseudocysts, drainage can be curative. In infected pseudocysts, percutaneous drainage is useful to stabilize the patient and can be either a cure or a temporizing measure until surgery can be performed.     

US-guided transvaginal drainage of pelvic abscesses and fluid collections

Ultrasound (US)-guided transvaginal needle or catheter drainage was performed in 14 women for a variety of pelvic abscesses and fluid collections; tubo-ovarian abscesses and postoperative collections were most common. Diagnosis was achieved in all 14 patients (100%), including one patient with suspected ovarian carcinoma who underwent only diagnostic needle aspiration and no therapeutic drainage. Abscesses or fluid collections were evacuated in 13 of 13 patients (100%) with either needle (n = 7) or catheter (n = 6) drainage (with appropriate antibiotics). Twelve of the 14 patients (86%) were spared an operation; surgery was undertaken in two patients for a persistent tubo-ovarian phlegmon. No major complications were associated with drainage. Catheters were removed an average of 6.7 days after insertion. The success, safety, and advantages of US-guided transvaginal drainage in our early experience suggest its use as an alternative to standard percutaneous catheter procedures to diagnose and drain certain pelvic abscesses and fluid collections.     

Sterile Fluid Collections in Acute Pancreatitis: Catheter Drainage Versus Simple Aspiration

Purpose To compare the clinical outcome of needle aspiration versus percutaneous catheter drainage of sterile fluid collections in patients with acute pancreatitis. Methods We reviewed the clinical and imaging data of patients with acute pancreatic fluid collections from 1998 to 2003. Referral for fluid sampling was based on elevated white blood cell count and fevers. Those patients with culture-negative drainages or needle aspirations were included in the study. Fifteen patients had aspiration of 10–20 ml fluid only (group A) and 22 patients had catheter placement for chronic evacuation of fluid (group C). We excluded patients with grossly purulent collections and chronic pseudocysts. We also recorded the number of sinograms and catheter changes and duration of catheter drainage. The CT severity index, Ranson scores, and maximum diameter of abdominal fluid collections were calculated for all patients at presentation. The total length of hospital stay (LOS), length of hospital stay after the drainage or aspiration procedure (LOS-P), and conversions to percutaneous and/or surgical drainage were recorded as well as survival. Results The CT severity index and acute Ransom scores were not different between the two groups (p = 0.15 and p = 0.6, respectively). When 3 crossover patients from group A to group C were accounted for, the duration of hospitalization did not differ significantly, with a mean LOS and LOS-P of 33.8 days and 27.9 days in group A and 41.5 days and 27.6 days in group C, respectively (p = 0.57 and 0.98, respectively). The 60-day mortality was 2 of 15 (13%) in group A and 2 of 22 (9.1%) in group C. Kaplan–Meier survival curves for the two groups were not significantly different (p = 0.3). Surgical or percutaneous conversions occurred significantly more often in group A (7/15, 47%) than surgical conversions in group C (4/22, 18%) (p = 0.03). Patients undergoing catheter drainage required an average of 2.2 sinograms/tube changes and kept catheters in for an average of 52 days. Aspirates turned culture-positive in 13 of 22 patients (59%) who had chronic catheterization. In group A, 3 of the 7 patients converted to percutaneous or surgical drainage had infected fluid at the time of conversion (total positive culture rate in group A 3/15 or 20%). Conclusions There is no apparent clinical benefit for catheter drainage of sterile fluid collections arising in acute pancreatitis as the length of hospital stay and mortality were similar between patients undergoing aspiration versus catheter drainage. However, almost half of patients treated with simple aspiration will require surgical or percutaneous drainage at some point. Disadvantages of chronic catheter drainage include a greater than 50% rate of bacterial colonization and the need for multiple sinograms and tube changes over an average duration of about 2 months.     

CT-Guided Percutaneous Drainage of Infected Collections Due to Gastric Leak After Sleeve Gastrectomy for Morbid Obesity: Initial Experience

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided drainage in treating infected collections due to gastric leak after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity. From January 2007 to June 2009, 21 patients (9 men and 12 women; mean age, 39.2 (range, 26–52) years) with infected collections due to gastric leak after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity underwent image-guided percutaneous drainage. All procedures were performed using CT guidance and 8- to 12-Fr pigtail drainage catheters. Immediate technical success was achieved in all 21 infected collections. In 18 of 21 collections, we obtained progressive shrinkage of the collection with consequent clinical success (success rate 86%). In three cases, the abdominal fluid collection was not resolved, and the patients were reoperated. Among the 18 patients who avoided surgery, 2 needed replacement of the catheter due to obstruction. No major complications occurred during the procedure. The results of our study support that CT-guided percutaneous drainage is an effective and safe method to treat infected abdominal fluid collections due to gastric leak in patients who had previously underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity. It may be considered both as a preparatory step for surgery and a valuable alternative to open surgery. Failure of the procedure does not, however, preclude a subsequent surgical operation.     

Feasibility of MR imaging-guided percutaneous drainage of pancreatic fluid collections

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility and safety of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided percutaneous drainage of pancreatic fluid collections in an open configuration low field MR imaging system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with pancreatic fluid collections were examined prospectively. Five of the fluid collections were symptomatic pseudocysts and five were pancreatic abscesses. All percutaneous drainages were performed solely under MR imaging guidance with a 0.23-T open configuration C-arm shaped MR imaging scanner with interventional optical tracking. Every step of the procedure was monitored using balanced fast field echo sequences. In each case, the drainage of the fluid collection was performed with a MR imaging-compatible drainage kit using the Seldinger technique. The kit included an 18-gauge needle, a 0.035-inch stiff guide wire, 6-F and 8-F dilators, and an 8-F pigtail drainage catheter. RESULTS: All drainage catheters could successfully be placed into the pancreatic fluid collections under MR imaging guidance. Visualization of the needle, dilator, and drainage catheter was excellent. However, visualization of the guide wire was suboptimal. The mean time needed for the MR-guided drainage procedure was 44 minutes. No immediate complications occurred. The clinical success rate of the percutaneous drainage was 70%; three patients were subsequently treated surgically. There were no deaths. The average duration of catheterization was 40 days. CONCLUSION: MR imaging-guided percutaneous drainage of pancreatic fluid collections is feasible and safe. The presented technique has limitations--lack of real-time imaging control and small selection of MR imaging-compatible devices--that necessitate further technical developments before the procedure can be recommended for routine clinical use.     

Outcomes after Transgastric Drainage of Pancreatic Duct Leaks

PurposeTo determine the outcomes of transgastric drainage (TGD) of pancreatic duct leaks (PDLs), including fluid collections and pancreaticocutaneous fistulae (PCFs).Materials and MethodsFifty-four patients who underwent attempted TGD of a PDL from 1992 to 2020 were identified. Data regarding patient comorbidities, fluid collection characteristics, technical success, drain exchanges and removals, recurrent collections, and complications were analyzed.ResultsForty-one patients (41/54, 76%) had a history of pancreatitis. Sixteen patients (16/54, 30%) had a history of recent abdominal surgery. Peripancreatic fluid collections were 11.2 cm ± 4.6 in greatest dimension prior to drainage. Twenty-one collections (21/54, 39%) demonstrated biochemical and/or imaging evidence of an active communication to the pancreatic duct, and 16 (16/54, 30%) of these patients had a PCF due to a direct percutaneous drain prior to TGD. TGD was technically successful in 53 patients (53/54, 98%). During the follow-up period, 46 patients (46/53, 87%) were able to undergo drain removal after resolution of the fluid collection, with a mean catheter indwelling time of 3 months and a median of 1 catheter exchange. There were 2 severe (2/53, 4%) and 4 moderate (4/53, 8%) complications, the most common of which was drain dislodgement requiring repeat transgastric puncture. Recurrent fluid collections were observed in 8 patients (8/53, 15%) after a mean of 5 months following drain removal. There were no recurrent PCFs.ConclusionsTGD of PDLs is technically feasible and efficacious in the vast majority of patients with a relatively low complication rate. This technique is effective in preventing or treating the long-term debilitating complication of PCF.     

US-guided catheter drainage of postoperative head and neck fluid collections

PURPOSE: To analyze results of percutaneous catheter drainage of large fluid collections in the head and neck region noted in the immediate postoperative period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four consecutive patients with 41 large fluid collections in the head and neck detected 7-10 days after oncologic surgery underwent percutaneous catheter drainage. There were 29 men and five women, with a mean age of 52.2 years (95% CI: 47.8-56.7). Each patient had a surgical drain placed in the posterior neck triangle; three patients had low-grade fever and six had diabetes at the time of percutaneous catheter drainage. Conventional management consisting of serial needle aspirations at bedside followed by pressure dressing failed in 15 of 34 patients (44%). Ultrasound-guided drainage was performed and catheters were connected to vacuum balls for continuous suction drainage. RESULTS: The average fluid volume estimated by sonographic measurement was 84 cm(3) (95% CI: 57-112 cm(3)). The fluid content was serosanguinous in 46% (19 of 41), uncoagulated blood in 32% (13 of 41), pus in 15% (six of 41), and saliva in 7% (three of 41). The mean duration of catheter drainage was nine days (95% CI: 7-10 d) and mean fluid drainage was 287 mL (95% CI: 188-387 mL). Ninety-one percent of patients (31 of 34) were successfully treated with initial catheter drainage. Three patients had recurrent fluid collections at the same locations: two were treated with repeated catheter insertions and one required a limited open drainage. No complication related to catheter drainage was noted at 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous catheter drainage is effective for large fluid collections in the head and neck region noted in the immediate postoperative period irrespective of contents.     

Computerized tomography-guided drainage of postoperative abdominal fluid collections]

INTRODUCTION: We report our personal technique and the results of CT-guided percutaneous drainage of postoperative abdominal fluid collections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: January 1990 to March 1998, eighty-three patients were treated for postoperative abdominal fluid collections. Forty-eight patients had undergone bowel resection, 11 laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 3 cholecystectomy, 5 splenectomy, 3 cephalopancreasectomy, 6 hepaticojejunal anastomosis, 4 hepatic resection, 2 laparocele, 1 hysterectomy. The complications had developed few days to about one year postoperatively. The suspicion of abdominal fluid collection was supported by clinical and laboratory findings. All patients were submitted to a preliminary CT scan to locate the fluid collection, assess its morphology and relationships with surrounding structures, and plan the safest access route. After local anesthesia, a trial fine needle (Chiba 20-22 G) aspiration was performed and then the draining tube was inserted into the collection under CT guidance; the tube caliber depended on the fluid amount and viscosity. After drainage, the tube was removed if CT showed complete resolution of the fluid collection; otherwise it was left in place for subsequent washing of the cavity. Based on clinical, laboratory and CT findings, another CT-guided percutaneous drainage was judged necessary in 30 patients, 2-9 days after the first one. Drainage was considered successful when sepsis resolved and no further percutaneous/surgical drainages were needed. RESULTS: CT-guided percutaneous drainage was successful in 61 of 83 patients (73.5%); the fluid collection resolved after one drainage in 26/61 patients, in 2-9 days in 18/61, and after a second CT-guided drainage in 17/61. Drainage was not resolutive in 22 of 83 patients, because major postoperative complications required laparotomic surgery; these complications were fistulas (anastomotic in 12 cases; pancreatic in 5 and biliary in 3) and segmentary bowel necrosis in 2 cases. Intracavitary bleeding as a catheter-related complication occurred only in one patient with an anterior abdominal wall abscess. CONCLUSIONS: CT-guided percutaneous drainage offers many advantages over surgery: it is less invasive, can be repeated and requires no anesthesia; there are no surgery-related risks and lower morbidity and mortality rates. Moreover, subsequent hospitalization is shorter and costs are consequently reduced. We conclude that CT-guided percutaneous drainage is the method of choice in the treatment of postoperative abdominal fluid collections.     

Fungus-infected fluid collections in thorax or abdomen: effectiveness of percutaneous catheter drainage

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous catheter drainage in the treatment of fungus-infected fluid collections in the thorax or abdomen and to identify any factor that may be predictive of a poor clinical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Approval for this study was obtained from the hospital ethics subcommittee on human studies. Because the study was retrospective, patient informed consent was not required. This study was compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Retrospective analysis was performed of cases of fungus-infected fluid collections in the thorax or abdomen treated by using percutaneous catheter drainage in 60 patients (36 male and 24 female patients; mean age, 57 years; range, 2 months to 91 years) during 5 years. The patient medical records were reviewed to identify recognized factors for predisposition to fungal infection. The details of percutaneous catheter drainage and microbiologic findings were recorded. The technical success (ability of catheters placed to drain collections treated) and the clinical success (ability of patients to recover fully without surgery) of percutaneous catheter drainage were determined. A multifactor logistic regression analysis was performed to identify any clinical or microbiologic factor predictive of a poor clinical outcome. RESULTS: Seventy-three fungus-infected fluid collections were drained in 60 patients. The collections originated from the pleura (n = 6), mediastinum (n = 2), liver (n = 3), pancreas (n = 5), obstructed biliary or urinary tract (n = 9), gallbladder (n = 1), and abdominopelvic area (n = 47). The technical success rate for catheter drainage was 79% (41 of 52 patients); the clinical success rate, 57% (34 of 60 patients). Twenty (33%) patients died from all causes during hospital admission. Multifactor logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of a poor clinical outcome; complexity of collection, history of malignancy, and admission to intensive care unit were significant (P < .03) and independent predictors. CONCLUSION: Despite a moderately high technical success rate with percutaneous catheter drainage of fungus-infected fluid collections, clinical success rate was much lower. Both imaging appearance (complexity of collection) and clinical factors (history of malignancy, admission to intensive care unit) influenced prognosis.     

Percutaneous drainage of pancreatic and peripancreatic fluid collections

Radiographically guided therapeutic percutaneous catheter drainage was used to manage 25 patients with 27 pancreatic and peripancreatic fluid collections. Nine of 11 (82%) noninfected and 11 of 16 (69%) infected collections were successfully managed with percutaneous drainage. Overall, eight complications and four deaths occurred in this group of patients. The morbidity and mortality in this series is somewhat higher than that previously reported in the radiologic literature. A discussion of the guidelines for percutaneous drainage is presented.     

Percutaneous drainage of pelvic lymphatic fluid collections in the renal transplant patient

Seventeen renal transplant patients with pelvic lymphatic fluid collections were treated with percutaneous drainage. Eleven of 16 patients with lymphoceles (69%) were successfully managed without surgery, although seven of these patients required repeat catheter insertions, and three patients developed local infections. The patient with an ovarian cystadenoma was treated with surgery. The mean duration of catheter insertion was ten days for initial drainage and 16 days for repeat drainage. Elevated serum creatinines decreased in 14 of the patients with lymphoceles (88%), including all five patients without pelvocaliectasis, but never returned to baseline in six instances. This observation may reflect the inadequate therapy of frequently encountered concurrent renal parenchymal abnormalities (rejection, cyclosporine toxicity, acute tubular necrosis). While percutaneous management of lymphoceles is technically easy and usually ultimately effective, the interventional radiologist should be prepared for long duration of catheter insertions, repeat interventions, and variable clinical courses. Differentiation of lymphoceles from other fluid collections, such as cystic ovarian neoplasms, may be difficult.     

Efficacy of percutaneous abscess drainage in patients with vancomycin-resistant enterococci

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed a 4-year experience draining fluid collections infected with vancomycin-resistant enterococci to determine the outcome of percutaneous intervention in patients with this highly resistant and increasingly common organism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Charts of patients from whom vancomycin-resistant enterococci had been isolated during percutaneous drainage were reviewed to determine patient response to drainage, catheter management, and outcome of treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients underwent percutaneous drainage of 28 fluid collections from which vancomycin-resistant enterococci were isolated, including 16 intraabdominal abscesses, seven biliary or urinary obstructions, and five empyemas. The drainage of 27 (96%) of 28 collections were technically successful. In seven patients, drainage provided the first isolation of vancomycin-resistant enterococci from the patient. Five patients also had blood cultures with positive findings for vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and 14 collections were coinfected with other bacteria or with fungi. Twenty collections (71%) or obstructions were successfully treated with percutaneous drainage. Drainage was unsuccessful in treating eight collections in seven patients. CONCLUSION: Despite high-level antibiotic resistance, fluid collections infected with vancomycin-resistant enterococci can be successfully drained percutaneously, resulting in a favorable likelihood of recovery for patients.     

Percutaneous catheter drainage of external fistulas of the pancreatic ducts

The aim of this study was to describe catheterization techniques and report the results of percutaneous drainage of external pancreatic fistulas. Twenty patients with external pancreatic fistulas in whom medical therapy had failed, were referred for radiologically guided treatment. Fifteen patients had postoperative and five primary fistulas. Sixteen were high-output fistulas (H-OF) and four were low-output fistulas (L-OF). All patients were treated percutaneously. Percutaneous catheter drainage was successful in 16 of 20 patients (80 %). The fistula healed in 13 of 15 postoperative cases (86.6 %) and in three of five primary fistulas (60 %). Treatment was successful in 14 of 16 patients (87.5 %) with H-OF and in two of four patients with L-OF. Percutaneous catheterization of the pancreatic ducts was successful in eight of 20 patients (40 %); seven of these patients were cured. Catheterization was not achieved in 12 patients and treatment failed in three (25 %). Conservative treatment of external pancreatic fistulas with percutaneous catheter-directed drainage is thus a reasonable alternative to surgery, particularly in patients with H-OF. Received: 15 July 1997; Revision received 4 September 1997; Accepted 5 September 1997     

Percutaneous drainage of abdominal abcess

The mortality in undrained abdominal abscesses is high with a mortality rate ranging between 45 and 100%. The outcome in abdominal abscesses, however, has improved due to advances in image guided percutaneous interventional techniques. The main indications for the catheter drainage include treatment or palliation of sepsis associated with an infected fluid collection, and alleviation of the symptoms that may be caused by fluid collections by virtue of their size, like pancreatic pseudocele or lymphocele. The single liver abscesses may be drained with ultrasound guidance only, whereas the multiple abscesses usually require computed tomography (CT) guidance and placement of multiple catheters. The pancreatic abscesses are generally drained routinely and urgently. Non-infected pancreatic pseudocysts may be simply observed unless they are symptomatic or cause problems such as pain or obstruction of the biliary or the gastrointestinal tract. Percutaneous routes that have been described to drain pelvic abscesses include transrectal or transvaginal approach with sonographic guidance, a transgluteal, paracoccygeal-infragluteal, or perineal approach through the greater sciatic foramen with CT guidance. Both the renal and the perirenal abscesses are amenable to percutaneous drainage. Percutaneous drainage provides an effective and safe alternative to more invasive surgical drainage in most patients with psoas abscesses as well.     

Percutaneous aspiration and drainage of abdominal fluid collections after pancreatic transplantation

Pancreatic transplantation, performed to avert or delay the long-term complications of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, is sometimes complicated by the development of intraabdominal fluid collections. We performed 33 sonographically guided and CT-guided percutaneous abdominal aspiration and drainage procedures in 22 transplant patients; 25 procedures were done with the pancreatic graft-in-situ, and eight were done after removal of the transplant. All 11 percutaneous aspirations performed in 10 patients were successful in obtaining microbiologic culture material, and there were no complications. Sixteen percutaneous catheter drainages were performed in 13 patients with the graft-in-situ. Subsequent surgical intervention was avoided after only five (31%) of these drainage procedures. However, further intervention was unnecessary after five (83%) of six percutaneous catheter drainages in five patients who had previously undergone transplant pancreatectomy. No significant short-term or long-term complications were identified. Guided percutaneous aspiration of abdominal fluid collections after pancreatic transplantation is a safe and effective means of obtaining diagnostic material, and guided catheter drainage is definitive treatment in approximately one-third of procedures with the graft-in-situ and in most procedures done after removal of the graft.     

Image guided drainage of pelvic fluid collections: results in 42 patients

PURPOSE: To review the etiology, location, and morphology of pelvic collection as well as the technique and results of image guided drainage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1996 to August 2002, we performed image guided drainage of pelvic fluid collections in 21 males and 21 females. In patients where a direct contact between the collection and the endocavitary probe was present, the drainage was performed either by transrectal or transvaginal approach using 10F, 12F, 14F or 16F catheters according to the viscosity of the fluid. When the patients were no longer septic, when drainage had stopped, the drains were removed at day 5. When a fistula was present, the drain was left in place until the fistula healed. RESULTS: The most common location of pelvic collections was the cul-desac (43%). A total of 81% of pelvic abscesses were digestive in origin, either from the colon or appendix. Transrectal or transvaginal drainage was possible in 83% of cases. Mean follow-up was 41 months. No drainage related complication was recorded. In two patients with collections of clear fluid, a simple aspiration was performed without insertion of a drain. In the 40 other patients, a drainage catheter was inserted. Twenty-nine patients were cured after 15 days of drainage. Two patients had recurrent collections. Image guided drainage failed in five patients, and all underwent successful surgical management. CONCLUSION: Image guided drainage of pelvic collections is a safe and effective procedure. Failures were due to initially undiagnosed pathology requiring surgical treatment.     

Percutaneous drainage of infected pancreatic fluid collections in critically ill patients: correlation with C-reactive protein values

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of percutaneous catheter drainage, of early infected pancreatic fluid collections, in critically ill patients with severe acute pancreatitis. The patients in our series had a mean Ranson's score of 5.4. Nineteen (63.3%) of the 30 patients were cured with percutaneous drainage. In this group, the mean C-reactive protein value at the beginning of treatment was 172.8 U/l and 102.5 U/l at the end (P<.001). Cultures yielded multiple organisms in 23 patients (76.7%). The most frequently seen organisms were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecium.     

Modified Surgical Drain–Guided Percutaneous Catheter Drainage of Postoperative Fluid Collection in Inaccessible Locations

PurposeTo investigate the feasibility and safety of a modified surgical drain–guided percutaneous catheter drainage technique for postoperative fluid collection in inaccessible locations.Materials and MethodsThe modified technique was used in 24 patients (age, 58.6 years ± 11.3; men, 58.3%) from September 2015 to March 2021. All fluid collections had no safe access route on preprocedural computed tomography (CT) images. Every patient had a long (>20 cm) and tortuous surgical drain, which prevented the use of conventional surgical drain exchange. A favorable midpoint of the surgical drain tract was punctured under either ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance, and a guide wire was advanced into the fluid collection. Technical success was defined as the successful placement of a drainage catheter, and clinical success was defined as the complete evacuation of fluid collection without recurrence. Follow-up was performed using CT images and a chart review. Adverse events within 30 days of the procedure were evaluated.ResultsTarget fluid collections in the pelvic cavity (n = 9); subphrenic (n = 7), peripancreatic (n = 4), and subhepatic spaces (n = 3); and abdominal cavity (n = 1) were drained using catheters measuring 7–10.2 F in diameter and 25–30 cm in length. The technical success rate was 91.7% (22/24), and the clinical success rate was 90.9% (20/22). No procedure-related or catheter-related adverse events were observed. The median follow-up period was 8.2 months (range, 10–1,721 days).ConclusionsThe modified surgical drain–guided percutaneous catheter drainage technique is a useful alternative when conventional exchange techniques cannot be used because of long and tortuous surgical drain paths.     

Percutaneous Management of Abscess and Fistula Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous drainage of fluid collections following pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple’s procedure). Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 19 patients referred to our service with fluid collections following pancreaticoduodenectomy. The presence of associated enteric or biliary fistulas, the route(s) of access for image-guided drainage, the incidence of positive bacterial cultures, and the duration and success of percutaneous management were recorded. Results: Fistulous communication to the jejunum in the region of the pancreatico-jejunal anastomosis was demonstrable in all 19 patients by gentle contrast injection into drainage tubes. Three patients had concurrent biliary fistulas. In 18 of 19 patients, fluid samples yielded positive bacterial cultures. Successful percutaneous evacuation of fluid was achieved in 17 of 19 patients (89%). The mean duration of drainage was 31 days. Conclusion: Percutaneous drainage of abscess following pancreaticoduodenectomy is effective in virtually all patients despite the coexistence of enteric and biliary fistulas.