Percutaneous Transcatheter Ethanol Sclerotherapy and Catheter Drainage of Postoperative Pelvic Lymphoceles

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and long-term results of percutaneous transcatheter ethanol sclerotherapy (PTES) for postoperative pelvic lymphocele treatment. Fifty-two patients who were referred for lymphocele treatment were included in this study. Sixty lymphoceles of 52 patients were treated by percutaneous treatment with or without ethanol sclerotherapy. Lymphoceles developed in 47 and 5 patients, who underwent gynecologic malignancy operation (31 ovarian cancer, 6 cervix cancer, 10 endometrial cancer) and renal transplantation, respectively. Lymphoceles were catheterized by ultrasonography and fluoroscopy guidance using the Seldinger technique. Lymphoceles smaller than 150 mL underwent single-session ethanol sclerotherapy and the others were treated by multiple-session ethanol scleortherapy. In 10 patients, percutaneous ethanol sclerotherapy could not be performed and they were treated only by percutaneous catheter drainage. The mean lymphocele volume was 329 mL (15–2900 mL). The mean catheterization duration was 11.8 days (1–60 days). The mean follow up time was 25.8 months (2–64 months). The initial treatment was successful in 46 out of 50 (91%) lymphoceles treated with PTES and 7 out of 10 (70%) lymphoceles treated with percutaneous catheter drainage. Minor complications (secondary infection and catheter dislodgement) were noted in seven (11.6%) patients. Recurrence developed in four and three patients who were treated by PTES and percutaneous catheter drainage, respectively. Five of these patients were treated with PTES without further recurrence. Percutaneous transcatheter ethanol sclerotherapy is an effective and reliable method for the treatment of postoperative lymphoceles.     

Percutaneous drainage of postoperative abdominal and pelvic lymphoceles

Eleven patients with postoperative abdominal and pelvic lymphoceles underwent percutaneous diagnostic and therapeutic intervention with either needle aspiration or catheter drainage. Although initial sonographic or CT examinations accurately identified these collections, definitive diagnosis required fluid sampling and laboratory analysis for confirmation. Seven pelvic and two retroperitoneal lymphoceles demonstrated a gross appearance and composition different from two lymphatic collections in the upper peritoneum. Nine patients underwent catheter drainage; two were managed by needle aspiration alone. Duration of catheter drainage was 4-120 days, substantially longer than is customary for standard fluid collections. Nine of 11 patients were cured by percutaneous aspiration or drainage alone. Bacterial colonization developed in three persistently draining lymphoceles. However, no clinical sepsis or bacteremia occurred. In another patient with persistent high-volume lymphatic output, sclerotherapy with tetracycline instillation was successful in rapidly closing the lymphatic fistula. Percutaneous drainage is a safe, effective procedure for drainage of postoperative lymphoceles.     

Lymphoceles: percutaneous treatment with povidone-iodine sclerosis

Although percutaneous procedures have gained a degree of acceptance for treatment of lymphoceles, success rates for aspiration and drainage have been less than optimal. The authors investigated transcatheter sclerosis of pelvic lymphoceles with povidone-iodine as a method to increase the success rate of percutaneous management. Eight patients with a total of nine pelvic lymphoceles were treated with this method. Eight of the nine lymphoceles (89%) resolved without complications. Four patients had undergone lymphadenectomy and four, renal transplantation. The duration of catheter drainage ranged from 15 to 37 days. Four of the lymphoceles were found to be infected at initial drainage, but this did not alter the amount of time the catheter was left in place. One lymphocele failed to heal with sclerotherapy and required internal drainage. The early results with transcatheter povidone-iodine sclerosis of postoperative lymphoceles are encouraging and warrant further evaluation.     

Povidone-iodine sclerosis of pelvic lymphoceles: a prospective study

Twelve patients presented for percutaneous catheter drainage of 13 postoperative pelvic lymphoceles. Six patients with 7 lymphoceles were treated with povidone-iodine sclerosis prior to catheter removal. Only 1 lymphocele (which continued to drain large amounts of fluid during and after the sclerosis procedure) recurred. Six patients with 6 lymphoceles had their percutaneous catheters removed without sclerosis. Fluid collections recurred in 3 instances, necessitating repeat percutaneous drainage (2 patients) or surgery (1 patient). Percutaneous therapy is the treatment of choice for patients with postoperative lymphoceles. Povidone-iodine sclerosis is often effective in preventing reaccumulation of fluid once the lymphocele cavity is collapsed.     

Postoperative pelvic lymphocele: treatment with simple percutaneous catheter drainage.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of simple percutaneous catheter drainage in the treatment of postoperative lymphocele. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Percutaneous catheter drainage of 23 symptomatic lymphoceles was performed with ultrasonographic (US) guidance in 20 patients who had undergone radical pelvic lymphadenectomy because of uterine malignancy. All lymphoceles were diagnosed on the basis of biochemical and cytologic findings in aspirated fluid. The drainage catheter was removed when the amount of daily drainage was less than 10 mL per day and when the lymphocele was seen at imaging to have resolved. Follow-up US was performed at 1, 3, and 6 months after catheter removal. The results were classified as success, partial success, or failure. RESULTS: Lymphoceles ranged in size from 5 x 4 x 3 to 25 x 10 x 10 cm. Mean total drainage volume was 2,012 mL (range, 300-17,240 mL). Fluid from 10 lymphoceles (43%) was positive at Gram staining and bacteriologic culture; fluid from 13 (57%) was sterile. Duration of catheter drainage was 3-49 days (mean, 22 days). Twenty (87%) lymphoceles resolved completely; three (13%) recurred. Two recurrent lymphoceles were again treated with percutaneous catheter drainage; the third resolved spontaneously 5 months after catheter removal. Successful treatment was ultimately achieved in all patients. Postprocedural complications occurred in four patients. One had a secondary infection of lymphocele; one, catheter dislodgment; and two, skin infection at the site of catheter insertion. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous catheter drainage is safe and effective for treatment of symptomatic postoperative lymphoceles.     

Povidone-Iodine sclerosis of pelvic lymphoceles: A prospective study

Twelve patients presented for percutaneous catheter drainage of 13 postoperative pelvic lymphoceles. Six patients with 7 lymphoceles were treated with povidone-iodine sclerosis prior to catheter removal. Only 1 lymphocele (which continued to drain large amounts of fluid during and after the sclerosis procedure) recurred. Six patients with 6 lymphoceles had their percutaneous catheters removed without sclerosis. Fluid collections recurred in 3 instances, necessitating repeat percutaneous drainage (2 patients) or surgery (1 patient). Percutaneous therapy is the treatment of choice for patients with postoperative lymphoceles. Povidoneiodine sclerosis is often effective in preventing reaccumulation of fluid once the lymphocele cavity is collapsed.     

Percutaneous transcatheter ethanol sclerotheraphy of postoperative pelvic lymphoceles

Although percutaneous procedures have been used for the treatment of lymphoceles, transcatheter sclerosing therapy has not been widely applied. We present the results of transcatheter sclerotherapy of lymphoceles with 96% absolute ethanol in 7 patients who had developed lymphocele after pelvic lymphadenectomy for uterine cancer. Seven of the eight lymphoceles (88%) completely disappeared after treatment. The duration of catheter drainage ranged from 4 to 21 days. Although one lymphocele did not resolve completely, it did not require surgery as the patient’s symptoms resolved.     

Sclerotherapy with use of doxycycline after percutaneous drainage of postoperative lymphoceles

PURPOSE: To assess the use of doxycycline as a sclerosing agent after percutaneous drainage of postoperative lymphoceles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Symptomatic postoperative lymphoceles (n = 21) in 18 patients were treated by percutaneous tube drainage for an average of 10.8 days. Sclerosis was performed when the patient became asymptomatic, drainage had slowed to less than 30 mL/d and follow-up imaging (CT or US) showed either near complete or total resolution of the lymphocele. Doxycycline (500 mg) combined with 1% lidocaine (5 mL) was instilled into the cavity with use of a syringe after any remaining lymphocele fluid was removed through the tube. When possible, patients were instructed to perform a series of maneuvers for the next hour to distribute the sclerosing agent evenly throughout the cavity. After 1 hour, the sclerosing agent was aspirated from the cavity and the drainage tube was removed. Three patients with four lymphoceles underwent sclerotherapy immediately after percutaneous insertion of a drainage tube and aspiration of the lymphocele. No patients underwent previous sclerosis with any agent. RESULTS: Successful treatment of postoperative lymphoceles was achieved in 17 of 18 patients. Primary success was achieved in 17 of 21 lymphoceles treated. There were four lymphocele recurrences in three patients. Three of the four recurrences were successfully treated by means of repeated drainage and sclerotherapy. One recurrent lymphocele persisted after re-treatment with 1 g of doxycycline. This patient underwent successful surgical repair. There were no complications related to doxycycline sclerosis. The mean duration of drainage for initial and recurrent lymphoceles was 10.8 days (range, 0-30 days). CONCLUSION: Sclerotherapy with use of doxycycline after percutaneous drainage is an easy, safe, inexpensive, and effective means of treating postoperative lymphoceles.     

Post-traumatic pseudocyst of the spleen: Sclerotherapy with ethanol

We report a case of successful percutaneous treatment of a chronic post-traumatic splenic pseudocyst using alcohol as the sclerosing agent. A 26-year-old man presented with a symptomatic cystic mass located in the spleen. Aspiration of 300 ml of fluid was only temporarily effective, and therefore a drainage catheter was placed 3 days later. After histopathologic and microbiologic exclusion of a malignant or infectious origin, local sclerotherapy with alcohol was performed because of recurrence after percutaneous drainage. This therapy was repeated six times within 2 weeks. Two weeks later, the remaining volume was determined to be 16 ml. Six months after treatment the cyst was no longer visible. To our knowledge this is the first case of a chronic post-traumatic splenic cyst treated with alcohol. Percutaneous sclerotherapy of a symptomatic post-traumatic splenic pseudocyst may be an alternative to surgical treatment.     

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.     

Percutaneous treatment of simple renal cysts with sclerotherapy and extended drainage

PURPOSE: To present the long-term results of sclerotherapy of symptomatic simple renal cysts with alcohol and aethoxysclerol followed by protracted seven-day drainage and to compare the efficacy of the two sclerosing agents used in the therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six symptomatic patients underwent percutaneous treatment with drainage and sclerotherapy of 72 simple renal cysts in a day hospital setting. The cysts were divided into two groups according to size (Group I and Group II with cyst volume smaller or larger than 600 ml respectively) for a better comparison of the results. The cysts were punctured directly under local anaesthesia with a 7 French Trocar catheter using the 'one-shot' technique and ultrasound guidance; a pig tail catheter was then left in the cyst for the complete evacuation of the cyst fluid. Sclerotherapy was performed by injection of 95% alcohol or 3% aethoxysclerol for 40 minutes, followed by seven-day drainage. On the basis of dimensional criteria, response to treatment was defined as: recovery, partial recurrence or recurrence. RESULTS: The procedure was successful in 97.2% of the cases with regard to cyst drainage, with clinical recovery in 95.3% of the cases. Group I had 14 recoveries and no complete recurrence after either alcohol or aethoxysclerol, 2 partial recurrences with alcohol and 4 partial recurrences with aethoxysclerol; Group II had 15 recoveries, 14 partial recurrences and one complete recurrence with alcohol, and 5 recoveries, 8 partial recurrences and 2 complete recurrences with aethoxysclerol. CONCLUSIONS: The one-shot technique under ultrasound guidance prevents the risk of major complications, reduces the likelihood of failure and is inexpensive; furthermore, it significantly reduces procedure time and is better tolerated by patients. On the basis of the clinical and dimensional results obtained, percutaneous sclerotherapy of renal cysts can be recommended as the treatment of choice and as a valid alternative to laparoscopy. As for the comparison between the two sclerosing agents, alcohol has a higher cost and negative side effects, but is more effective for the treatment of larger cysts. Aethoxysclerol is less expensive and has no side effects, but tends to lead to septic complications. On the basis of our experience, we therefore recommend the use of aethoxysclerol for sclerotherapy of smaller cysts followed by a 4-day drainage. For larger cysts, we recommend repeated alcoholization and the removal of the drainage catheter after seven days.     

Percutaneous treatment of a congenital splenic cyst with alcohol: a new therapeutic approach

Percutaneous treatment of a huge congenital splenic cyst in a 23-year-old man is presented. The cyst had been catheterized and drained two times within a 3-month period without injecting any sclerosing agent into the cavity. On the third attempt, catheter drainage and injection of alcohol into the cyst cavity were performed because of insufficient response to drainage alone. He was discharged symptom-free after the procedure. The cyst diminished in size considerably 9 months after the treatment with alcohol. The volume of the cyst was reduced from 5200 to 8 ml. Although percutaneous treatment of a congenital splenic cyst with tetracyclin has been reported, to our knowledge this is the first case of a congenital splenic cyst treated with alcohol as a sclerosing agent. Percutaneous treatment of splenic cyst can obviate the need for partial or total splenectomy and may be an alternative to surgical treatment. Received 14 June 1996; Revision received 10 October 1996; Accepted: 9 December 1996     

Graft Loss Due to Percutaneous Sclerotherapy of a Lymphocele Using Acetic Acid After Renal Transplantation

Development of lymphoceles after renal transplantation is a well-described complication that occurs in up to 40% of recipients. The gold standard approach for the treatment of symptomatic cases is not well defined yet. Management options include simple aspiration, marsupialization by a laparotomy or laparoscopy, and percutaneous sclerotherapy using different chemical agents. Those approaches can be associated, and they depend on type, dimension, and localization of the lymphocele. Percutaneous sclerotherapy is considered to be less invasive than the surgical approach; it can be used safely and effectively, with low morbidity, in huge, rapidly accumulating lymphoceles. Moreover, this approach is highly successful, and the complication rate is acceptable; the major drawback is a recurrence rate close to 20%. We herewith report a renal transplant case in which the patient developed a symptomatic lymphocele that was initially treated by ultrasound-guided percutaneous sclerotherapy with ethanol and thereafter using acetic acid for early recurrence. A few hours after injection of acetic acid in the lymphatic cavity, the patient started to complain of acute pain localized to the renal graft and fever. An ultrasound of the abdomen revealed thrombosis of the renal vein and artery. The patient was immediately taken to the operating room, where the diagnosis of vascular thrombosis was confirmed and the graft was urgently explanted. In conclusion, we strongly suggest avoiding the use of acetic acid as a slerosating agent for the percutaneous treatment of post-renal transplant lymphocele because, based on our experience, it could be complicated by vascular thrombosis of the kidney, ending in graft loss.     

经皮插管硬化治疗卵巢囊肿

目的 探讨经皮穿刺插管硬化治疗卵巢囊肿的临床价值。方法 在CT引导下经皮穿刺卵巢囊肿,在同轴套管针内插入4F多侧孔猪尾巴导管,用无水乙醇硬化治疗64例76个卵巢囊肿。其中单纯性囊肿48个、巧克力囊肿28个。结果 64例卵巢囊肿穿刺成功率100％,58例（占90、6％）治愈,6例（占9、4％）疗效显著,总有效率为100％,未发生严重并发症。结论 穿刺插管法硬化治疗卵巢囊肿是硬化彻底、安全实用、疗效可靠的方法。     

Percutaneous Lymphatic Embolization as Primary Management of Pelvic and Retroperitoneal Iatrogenic Lymphoceles

PurposeTo evaluate the efficacy of lymphatic embolization (LE) in decreasing catheter output and dwell time in iatrogenic lymphoceles after percutaneous catheter drainage.Materials and MethodsRetrospective review of patients who underwent intranodal lymphangiography (INL) with or without LE for management of iatrogenic lymphoceles between January 2017 and November 2020 was performed. Twenty consecutive patients (16 men and 4 women; median age, 60.5 years) underwent a total of 22 INLs and 18 LEs for 15 pelvic and 5 retroperitoneal lymphoceles. Lymphatic leaks were identified in 19/22 (86.4%) of the INLs. Three patients underwent INL only because a leak was not identified or was identified into an asymptomatic lymphocele. One patient underwent repeat INL and LE after persistent high catheter output, and 1 patient underwent repeat INL with LE after the initial INL did not identify a leak. Catheter output was assessed until catheter removal, and changes in output before and after the procedure were reported. The patients were followed up for 2–30 months, and procedural complications were reported.ResultsThe median catheter output before the procedure was 210 mL/day (50–1,200 mL/day), which decreased to a median of 20 mL/day (0–520 mL/day) 3 days after the procedure, with a median output decrease of 160 mL (0–900 mL). The median time between INL with LE and catheter removal was 6 days, with no recurrence requiring redrainage. Four patients experienced minor complications of low-grade fever (n = 2) and lower limb edema (n = 2).ConclusionsLymphangiogram and LE are safe and effective methods for the management of lymphoceles.     

Ultrasound-guided drainages and sclerotherapy

Ultrasonically guided fluid collection and abscess drainage have become routine procedures in various parts of the body. In most cases ultrasound is the only imaging and guidance modality needed; however, it is of the utmost importance to remember that CT and fluoroscopy with contrast often give invaluable information when the true extent of the process has to be determined and when assessing the safest route for the catheter in anatomically complicated areas. The importance of irrigation of the abscess cavity with fluids and the ready use of urokinase should be emphasized. Ethanol sclerotherapy is a simple and safe procedure to treat symptomatic hepatic or renal cysts. Parathyroid adenomas and cysts, as well as thyroid cysts, can also be treated with ethanol sclerotherapy in selected cases. Purified mineral talc has been used in pleurodesis and hydrocele sclerotherapy, whereas doxycycline or ethanol is used for postoperative lymphoceles. Both abscess drainages and sclerotherapy procedures are minimally invasive, simple, safe, inexpensive and reasonably efficacious treatment in many clinical instances and may be at least an alternative to surgical treatment, often offering significant advantages over surgery.     

Management of Postoperative Lymphoceles After Lymphadenectomy: Percutaneous Catheter Drainage With and Without Povidone-Iodine Sclerotherapy

Purpose

To report our single-center experience in managing symptomatic lymphoceles after lymphadenectomy for genitourinary and gynecologic malignancy and to compare clinical outcomes of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) alone versus PCD with transcatheter povidone-iodine sclerotherapy (TPIS).

Methods

The medical records of patients who presented for percutaneous drainage of pelvic lymphoceles from February 1999 to September 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Catheters with prolonged outputs >50 cc/day were treated with TPIS. Technical success was defined as the ability to achieve complete resolution of the lymphocele. Clinical success was defined as resolution of the patient’s symptoms that prompted the intervention.

Results

Sixty-four patients with 70 pelvic lymphoceles were treated. Forty-six patients (71.9 %) had PCD, and 18 patients (28.1 %) had multisession TPIS. The mean initial cavity size was 294.9 cc for those treated with TPIS and 228.2 cc for those treated with PCD alone (range 15–1,600) (p = 0.59). Mean duration of catheter drainage was 19 days (29 days with TPIS, 16 days with PCD, p = 0.001). Mean clinical follow-up was 22.6 months. Technical success was 74.3 % with PCD and 100 % with TPIS. Clinical success was 97 % with PCD and 100 % with TPIS. Postprocedural complications included pericatheter fluid leakage (n = 4), catheter dislodgement (n = 3), catheter occlusion (n = 9), and secondary infection of the collection (n = 4).

Conclusion

PCD of symptomatic lymphoceles is an effective postoperative management technique. Initial cavity size is not an accurate predictor of the need for TPIS. When indicated, TPIS is safe and effective with catheter outputs >50 cc/day.     

Posttransplant symptomatic lymphocele treatment with percutaneous drainage and ethanol sclerosis: long-term follow-up

PURPOSE: Lymphocele following kidney transplantation is a well-known complication. We present here the long-term results of percutaneous drainage and ethanol sclerosis in posttransplant lymphoceles. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 1988 and September 2003, 18 patients with symptomatic lymphoceles were treated with percutaneous transcatheter ethanol sclerosis among 300 renal transplants followed up. Catheters were positioned under ultrasonography (US) guidance. Cavity dimensions and extravasation were evaluated by pouch graph. The day after catheter insertion, sclerotherapy with ethanol was applied. Daily output and probable complications were followed up on periodic controls, and the alcohol was instilled when required. RESULT: The mean initial size of the lymphoceles was 6 x 8 x 10 cm (range 3 x 4 x 6 to 7 x 12 x 21 cm), with a mean initial volume of 230 ml (range 40-1340 ml). Incomplete resolution was achieved in all patients after sclerotherapy in the first week (100%). The mean duration of therapy was 17 days (range 4-45 days). The mean therapy sitting was 12 (4-21), and the average alcohol volume in one sitting was 30 ml. One recurrence and one graft lost were seen in this series. Minor complications like discomfort and mild temperature elevation were determined in 10 patients. In one case, temporary double-J stent was required to alleviate the increased pressure in collecting system of transplanted kidney. No late complication was occurred. CONCLUSION: As a less invasive method, percutaneous transcatheter ethanol sclerosis and drainage in the treatment of symptomatic lymphocele is a simple, safe and cost-effective method. Other treatment choices, like open or laparoscopic fenestration, can be used in case of failure.     

Splenic abscess: percutaneous drainage

Experience with percutaneous drainage in four cases of splenic abscess is presented. Percutaneous drainage and antibiotics were curative in three of four cases. The one case not adequately treated by antibiotics and percutaneous drainage was also complicated by ascites and multilocular collections. Percutaneous drainage in this case did not adversely affect subsequent curative surgery. Percutaneous catheter drainage of splenic abscess under radiologic guidance can be a safe, effective treatment.     

Nonsurgical drainage of appendiceal abscesses

Five patients with abdominal abscesses complicating appendicitis were successfully treated by catheter drainage. In two patients, the percutaneous procedure was performed after incomplete surgical drainage; in three patients it was used as the only means of initial drainage. No interval appendectomy was required and no complications were associated with the procedure. Percutaneous management of appendiceal abscesses can be proposed as an alternative to surgical drainage.