Treatment

Pediatric Abscess Drainage

An abscess is a collection of infected fluid (also known as pus). Although abscesses can occur anywhere in the body, in children, they are more common in the abdomen after having acute appendicitis or surgery. When abscesses are not responding to antibiotics alone and causing symptoms (fever, pain, etc.), they may require drainage. The best method and current standard of practice is for an interventional radiologist to drain an abscess using imaging guidance and a minimally invasive technique.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an abscess drainage?

An abscess is a collection of infected fluid (pus). Although abscesses can occur anywhere in the body, in children they are more common in the abdomen after having acute appendicitis or surgery. When abscesses are not responding to antibiotics alone and causing symptoms (fever, pain, etc.), they may require drainage. The best method and current standard of practice is for an interventional radiologist to drain an abscess using imaging guidance and a minimally invasive technique.

How is an abscess drainage in children performed?

Your child's interventional radiologist at Children's National Hospital will use ultrasound or a CT scan to locate the abscess and decide where to insert the needle. After numbing the skin, a needle will be inserted into the abscess and the fluid will be drawn out. The fluid will be sent to a laboratory to find out which bacteria caused the infection.

Depending on the location and size of the abscess and the type of fluid obtained in the collection, a small soft catheter (tube) will be placed to allow the area to continue to drain for next few days.

If the abscess is deep in the pelvis, sometimes the best route for the interventional radiologist is to place a drainage catheter through the rectum. This is called trans-rectal abscess drainage.

Will my child be awake during the abscess drainage procedure?

Will my child be in any pain after the abscess drainage procedure?

How long does an abscess drainage procedure take?

What risks are associated with this abscess drainage procedure?

When can my child bathe after the abscess drainage procedure?

If your child doesn't have a drainage catheter, the bandage must stay dry and in place for 48 hours. Then, you may remove the bandage and your child may shower or bathe as usual.

If your child has a drainage catheter, the bandage will remain in place. In addition, the catheter will be secured with a locking device (Statlock^©) which must not be removed. Please sponge bathe around the bandage. Your child may resume showers or baths 48 hours after the catheter is removed.

How long will the drainage catheter stay in place? How will the drain be removed?

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Departments that Offer Abscess Drainage

Interventional Radiology

Children's National interventional radiologists perform a full range of minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to both diagnose and treat disease in infants, children and adolescents. Learn more about how we help children in our care.

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