Psoas abscess: importance of percutaneous drainage in a consecutive case series

Abstract

Background: The of the iliopsoas abscess is a rare entity with a variable etiology. Its location and nonspecific clinical features makes it becomes a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the general surgeon. The opportunity to treat a series of cases in a relatively short period of time motivates this communication.Objective: From a consecutive case series, we analyze etiology, clinical features , as well as diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, with special emphasis on percutaneous drainage, as well as a brief review of recent literature.Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of six patients diagnosed with an ilipsoas abscess in a tertiary care center.Results: The series consists of 6 cases, 5 of primary type and 1 of secondary type. Pain, Limp and leu- cocitosis were the more prevalent signs; computed tomography of the abdomen was the diagnostic method of choice. Percutaneous drainage was the therapeutic option in 5 cases (83.3%), while in the remaining, antibiotic therapy and the drainage of an adjacent collection were indicated. The evolution of all cases was favorable with no mortality nor morbidity.Conclusion: The iliac psoas abscess is a pathology that needs a high level of suspicion given its nons- pecific presentation. For diagnosis, together with the clinic, computed tomography is the method of choice. Percutaneous drainage of collection under tomographic control is a safe and effective option for the treatment of this entity