Ultrasonic Diagnosis of Postoperative Intra-Abdominal Abscess

Abstract

Ultrasonic scanning was used to examine 102 patients suspected of having a postoperative intra-abdominal abscess. An intra-abdominal fluid collect ion was demonstrated in 16 patients; in all 16 the diagnosis was confirmed by operation or necropsy. There were no false positive diagnoses and two false negative diagnoses. An estimate of the volume of fluid in the abscess is helpful since a major discrepancy between predicted and drained volume suggests undrained loculi. Reexamination after drainage can be used to detect undrained or reaccumulated fluid. The ultrasonic method is highly accurate, noninvasive and can be used in critically ill patients.