CT-guided percutaneous drainage of lung abscesses: Review of 80 cases. Single center experience

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CT-guided percutaneous drainage of lung abscesses.Methods: In our department between 1/1/2007 and 1/1/2015, eighty patients with lung abscesses, in which antibiotic therapy failed, underwent CT-guided percutaneous drainage. Catheter placement was carried out using the Trocar technique in the majority of the cases ![Figure][1] ![Figure][1] Results: Lung abscess completely resolved in sixty six patients. Fourteen patients had residual cavity and surgery was performed. The success rate was 82.5%(66/80). Ten (12.5%) patients developed pneumothorax. Six developed moderate pneumothorax (7.5%) and chest-tube was inserted and four patients developed mild pneumothorax (5%) which was managed with aspiration. These patients were kept under observation and followed-up by chest X-rays. No other complications and no mortality occurred during the procedure for all eighty patients.Conclusion: CT-guided percutaneous catheter drainage is a useful and safe procedure for the treatment of patients with lung abscesses who do not respond to medical therapy and should be considered as a valuable alternative to open surgery. [1]: pending:yes