[Surgical treatment of intra-abdominal abscesses].

Abstract

To define the role of operative treatment of intraabdominal abscesses, we retrospectively reviewed 106 patients, who were operated for intraabdominal abscesses between January 1988 and October 1994. 49 patients had had a primary abscess, 57 patients had an anteceding operation. In both groups appendix and bilio-pancreatic tract were the mostly involved organs. 81 (76,4%) abscesses were single, whereas 17 patients had 2 and 8 patients had 3 synchronous abscesses. All abscesses fulfilled the criteria of complicated abscesses. Successful drainage was achieved in 83%, 17% of cases had to be reoperated or percutaneously drained for recurrence of abscess or abscess related complications. The procedure related morbidity was 37,7% (40/106), half of these were minor complications. 5 patients died, conferring to a mortality of 4,7%. We conclude, that operative drainage plays an important role in the therapeutic regimes of intraabdominal complicated abscesses and can be performed with low morbidity and mortality.