Percutaneous drainage of psoas abscess under real-time computed tomography fluoroscopic guidance.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of our study was to determine the usefulness of percutaneous abscess drainage under guidance of computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our subjects were 21 patients (seven women, 14 men; mean age 64 years; age range 30-87 years) who had undergone percutaneous drainage of 26 psoas abscess lesions under CT fluoroscopic guidance between May 2001 and January 2008. Drainage methods involved a needle puncture, insertion of a guidewire, serial dilations, and the exchange of the needle with a drainage tube. The procedures were guided by use of a helical CT scanner that provided real-time fluoroscopic reconstruction.

RESULTS: Percutaneous drainage under real-time CT fluoroscopic guidance was successfully performed in every procedure. Use of real-time CT fluoroscopy allowed rapid assessment of needle, guidewire, and catheter placement. No patient had serious complications related to the drainage procedure. The mean procedure time required to drain one lesion was 35.6 +/- 13.6 min. Mean period after the drainage procedure until complete disappearance of the abscess as confirmed by CT was 12.4 +/- 10.0 days (range 3-46 days).

CONCLUSION: CT fluoroscopy is useful in achieving accurate and safe drainage of abnormal psoas fluid collections.