Alternate Names: Abscess - intra-abdominal

Causes and Risks:

Risk factors for intra-abdominal abscesses include any history of intra-abdominal infectious processes, including appendicitis, diverticulitis, perforated ulcer disease, or any operation that involves contamination of the abdominal cavity.

Prevention:

No known prevention. Depending on the circumstance, antibiotics can sometimes prevent the formation of abscesses.

Symptoms:

Patients with intra-abdominal abscess present with fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and occasionally vomiting.

Signs and Tests:

The WBC count may be elevated on a CBC. A CT scan of the abdomen usually will reveal an intra-abdominal abscess

Treatment:

Treatment of intra-abdominal abscesses requires intravenous antibiotic therapy and drainage. Drainage can often be accomplished percutaneously, which involves passing a needle, then a drain over the needle, into the abscess cavity, usually under CT guidance. The drain is then left in place for days or weeks until the abscess resolves.

Occasionally, abscesses cannot be safely accessed with a percutaneous needle. In such cases, an operation is necessary. An incision is made in the abdomen after the induction of general anesthesia in the operating room. The abscess is drained, and a drain is left in the abscess cavity, which remains in place until the infection resolves.

Prognosis:

The prognosis depends on the original cause of the abscess and the degree of infection present. Generally, drainage is successful in curing intra-abdominal abscesses

Complications:

Complications include recurrent abscesses, and occasionally, spread of the infection to the blood stream with widespread infection.

Call your physician for any severe abdominal pain, or fevers, nausea, vomiting, or changes in bowel habits.