What is an Abscess Drain?
An abscess is a pocket of pus inside the body. An abscess can form as the body fights an infection caused by some types of germs. Germ-fighting medicines called antibiotics may be enough to treat small abscesses. Larger abscesses may need to be drained in order to heal.
An abscess drain is a small tube that is put into the abscess to draw out the pus. It can help some patients avoid surgery.
How is an Abscess Drain placed?
The clinician numbs the skin and makes a small hole, about an eighth of an inch. The clinician slides the tip of the drain through the hole and into the abscess. Medical imaging helps them guide the drain safely. The drain can be removed when the abscess heals. This usually takes several weeks. After the drain is removed, the hole closes in a few days without stitches.
How is an Abscess Drain Placed?
1. The clinician finds the abscess using ultrasound or CT. They then numb the skin.
2. They make a small hole and slide a tube through it and into the abscess.
3. They connect the tube to a bag so the pus can drain out.
What are the risks?
Abscess drainage is generally a safe procedure when done by a specialist.
Complications occur in less than 5 in 100 people or in up to 15 in 100 people, depending on the location of the abscess.
Complications can include high fever, bleeding, and damage to surrounding organs. If the abscess is near the lung, the lung may deflate or collapse. If an abnormal connection forms between the abscess and the intestines, it can take longer to heal.
Abscesses are more common in very sick patients, so 1-6 in 100 people will die within 30 days despite treatment.
What are the alternatives?
Your treatment options depend on your preferences, the size and location of the abscess, and how sick you are.
Alternative 1 Not draining the abscess. Your abscess may heal with antibiotics alone, but it may not. The infection could make you sicker and even lead to death.
Alternative 2 Surgery to open the abscess and wash out the pus. The surgeon may leave a bigger drain. Surgery has the benefit of cleaning out the infection all at once. However, the cut is larger and has to be closed with stitches. Risks can be higher, so some people are too sick for surgery.
Frequently asked questions
What is an abscess?
An abscess is a pocket of infected fluid or pus inside the body. Abscesses can cause pain and fever. Abscesses close to the skin cause redness and swelling that you can see. Abscesses deep in the body can be seen with medical imaging.
An abscess usually has a wall around it. Your body makes this wall to contain the infection. The tradeoff is that the wall also makes it hard for your immune system to attack the infection. Medical drainage of the abscess can help them heal.
How did I get an abscess?
Abscesses can develop from an infection after injury, inflammation, or surgery. They are usually caused by bacteria. Parasites rarely cause abscesses in the developed world.
How is an abscess treated?
Abscesses are treated by draining the pus inside. Options depend on where the abscess is:
Abscesses near the skin can be opened with a scalpel and drained through the skin. The abscess cavity can be packed with gauze to help it heal.
Abscesses deep in the body can be drained through a long soft tube inserted from the skin using medical imaging. This is a minimally-invasive image-guided procedure (MIIP) typically performed by an Interventional Radiologist (IR).
Less commonly, abscesses deep in the body are drained by a surgeon through a larger incision. This is more common if there is not a safe route to drain the abscess through the skin.
Sometimes an abscess can form an abnormal connection to another body organ, such as the intestine. When this happens, it may take longer for the abscess to heal with the help of the drainage tube or you may need further treatment or surgery.
When can my abscess drain be removed?
The abscess drainage tube can be removed once the infection is cleared and any abnormal connections have resolved. Your doctors will usually remove the tube if:
You are feeling better. You have no fevers or pain from the abscess.
The tube no longer drains any fluid. It is important to monitor how much fluid comes out of the tube every day. If the tube no longer drains fluid, it could be because the abscess has been treated or because the tube is blocked.
There are no abnormal connections involving the abscess. Sometimes, the abnormal connections require further treatment. You should discuss this with your doctors.
For more information:
For more information on infections after surgery: