Ultrasound-guided closed drainage for abscesses of the head and neck

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous closed drainage in the management of abscesses in the head and neck. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, controlled study. METHODS: From January 1998 to December 1999, patients presenting with a unilocular abscess in the head and neck and who subsequently underwent echo-guided percutaneous drainage were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were enrolled in the study. No patients needed open surgical drainage afterward. By our protocol, only 8 patients had an indwelling catheter. After treatment, all patients were cured of their disease completely without any complication. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous closed drainage is a safe and effective procedure and might be most beneficial in well-defined and/or unilocular abscess in the head and neck. Closed drainage could be tried initially in an abscess of the deeper visceral spaces and will not impede any subsequent intervention by surgery. Hospital stay can be shortened and potential surgical complications may be avoided by using this procedure.