Natural history of percutaneous drainage of postoperative collection following colorectal surgery: in which patients can follow-up imaging be dispensed with before drain removal?

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal surgery is complicated by postoperative collections in up to 25% of cases depending on local conditions. The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors of success of percutaneous drainage of collections in order to avoid follow-up imaging.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients between January 2009 and December 2016, who had undergone elective or emergency colorectal surgery (colorectal surgery and appendectomy) complicated by a postoperative collection treated by percutaneous drainage with follow-up imaging prior to drain removal, were included in this single-center and retrospective study. The primary objective was to assess predictive factors of success of the first attempt of percutaneous drainage of collections. Secondary objectives were to describe the natural history of percutaneous drainage of postoperative collections after colorectal surgery and the overall success rate of percutaneous drainage.

RESULTS: Fifty-three patients underwent percutaneous drainage of a postoperative collection during the study period and were included in this study. Complete resolution of the collection was observed on the first follow-up radiological examination in 36 patients (58%). In multivariate analysis, post-appendectomy collections (OR = 3.19 (1.14-9.27), p = 0.002) and reduction of the leukocyte count (OR = 3.22 (1.28-8.1), p = 0.013) were significantly associated with success of percutaneous drainage.

CONCLUSION: This is the first study to address that follow-up imaging prior to drain removal might not be necessary in patients undergoing drainage of post-appendectomy collections and/or with more than 30% reduction of the leukocyte count at the first follow-up examination.