Where is the most common location for an abdominal abscess?
An intra-abdominal abscess is a collection of pus or infected fluid that is surrounded by inflamed tissue inside the belly. An intra-abdominal abscess may be caused by bacteria. If left untreated, the bacteria will multiply and cause inflammation and kill healthy tissue. If you've recently had surgery or trauma to an abdominal organ and have ...
What are the treatment options for an abdominal abscess?
An abdominal abscess is a pocket of infected fluid and pus located inside the belly (abdominal cavity). This type of abscess can be located near or inside the liver, pancreas, kidneys or other organs. There can be one or more abscesses. CT scan of the pelvis showing a large intra-abdominal mass. Meckel diverticulum is one of the most common ...
What is the best hospital in the US for adults?
The contents of this chapter could have been summarized only in a sentence: an abscess is a pus-containing, confined structure, which requires to be drained by whichever means available at your disposition. The Editors, however, commanded us to further elaborate. Abscesses may develop anywhere within the abdomen, resulting from a myriad of conditions. Specific types of …
How are abdominal abscesses diagnosed?
· Intra-abdominal abscesses (abscesses within the abdomen) can develop when the abdominal cavity or an organ in the abdomen is compromised in some way and bacteria are able to enter. Such conditions ...
Where is the abscess located?
An abdominal abscess is a pocket of infected fluid and pus located inside the belly (abdominal cavity). This type of abscess can be located near or inside the liver, pancreas, kidneys or other organs. There can be one or more abscesses.
How do you know if you have an abscess?
Depending on where the abscess is located, you may have: Pain in your back. Pain in your chest or shoulder. Other symptoms of an abdominal abscess may be a lot like symptoms of having the flu. You may have: Swollen belly. Diarrhea. Fever or chills. Lack of appetite and possible weight loss.
What is a meckel diverticulum?
Meckel diverticulum is one of the most common congenital abnormalities. It occurs when the connection between the intestine and the umbilical cord doesn't completely close off during fetal development. This results in a small outpouching of the small intestine, know as a Meckel diverticulum. In most cases, Meckel diverticula do not cause any ...
What does a high white blood count mean?
Complete blood count -- A high white blood cell count is a possible sign of an abscess of other infection. Comprehensive metabolic panel -- This will show any liver, kidney or blood problems. Other tests that should show abdominal abscesses include: Abdominal x-ray. Ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis.
Can diverticulitis cause bleeding?
In a small number of patients however, these diverticula can become infected (diverticulitis) cause an obstruction of the intestine, or cause bleeding from the intestine. The most common symptom of Meckel diverticulitis is painless bleeding from the rectum. The stools may contain fresh blood or may look black and tarry.
What is abdominal abscess?
Intra-abdominal abscesses ( abscesses within the abdomen) can develop when the abdominal cavity or an organ in the abdomen is compromised in some way and bacteria are able to enter. Such conditions include appendicitis, bowel rupture, penetrating trauma, surgery, and Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Depending on where the abdominal abscess is ...
Where can an abscess be found?
Abscesses can form anywhere on the body (both inside and outside). They’re most commonly found on the surface of the skin. An abdominal abscess is a pocket of pus located in the abdomen. Abdominal abscesses can form near the inside of the abdominal wall, at the back of the abdomen, or around organs in the abdomen, including the liver, pancreas, ...
How to treat an abscess in the intestine?
Some cases may require surgery. Surgery may be necessary: 1 to clean out the abscess more thoroughly 2 if the abscess is difficult to reach with a needle 3 if an organ has ruptured
Can a doctor take a fluid sample from an abscess?
Your doctor may take a sample of fluid from the abscess and examine it to make a better diagnosis. The method for obtain ing a fluid sample depends on the location of the abscess.
How to drain pus from an abscess?
Needle drainage is one of the methods used to drain pus from an abscess. During this procedure, your doctor will use a CT scan or ultrasound to insert a needle through your skin and directly into the abscess. Your doctor will then pull the plunger to remove all the fluid.
Can you have surgery on an abscess?
During the procedure, the surgeon will make a cut in the abdomen and locate the abscess. They’ll then clean the abscess and attach a drain to it so pus can drain out.
How long does it take for an abscess to heal?
The drain will stay in place until the abscess heals. This usually takes several days or weeks. Last medically reviewed on May 17, 2017.
Primary therapy: abscess drainage
Surgery used primarily after percutaneous therapy has failed, after percutaneous therapy has stabilized the condition in preparation for primary surgical therapy, or when concurrent surgical source control needed.
Adjunctive antibiotic treatment
Empirical coverage of Enterococci should be considered in hospital-acquired and healthcare-associated infections.
FOLLOW UP
Source control is essential. The open abdomen approach is occasionally necessary in severe infections.
OTHER INFORMATION
Multiple factors, including severity of illness, bacteremia, multiple abscesses, and location of abscess are predictive of mortality (even with treatment, mortality may still approach 30% depending on the population).
Basis for recommendation
Solomkin JS, Mazuski JE, Bradley JS, et al. Diagnosis and management of complicated intra-abdominal infection in adults and children: guidelines by the Surgical Infection Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2010;50 (2):133-64. [PMID:20034345]