Evaluation of simultaneous tandem drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses caused by gastrointestinal anastomotic failure

Background: This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of a percutaneous method for treating intra-abdominal abscesses caused by gastrointestinal anastomotic leakage using tandem catheter placement for simultaneous drainage.Methods: This retrospective study involved 12 patients with intra-abdominal abscesses from anastomotic leakage who underwent image-guided percutaneous drainage.In the tandem drainage technique, one or more catheters were inserted into the abscess while an additional catheter was advanced into the gastrointestinal tract through the anastomotic dehiscence to decompress the tract and prevent further leakage.The study evaluated the technical and clinical success rates of this approach.Results: Technical success was achieved in nine of 12 patients (75.0%), with clinical success in eight of these nine patients (88.9%).The mean overall drainage duration after tandem placement was 65.0 days (range, 6-154 days), and the mean hospitalization duration for patients with clinical success was 66.7 days (range, 10-156 days).Conclusion: Simultaneous tandem drainage is a feasible treatment for intra-abdominal abscesses caused by anastomotic leakage and may be a viable option for patients who are not candidates for surgery.