Who Should Undergo Drain Studies After Percutaneous Drainage in Complicated Diverticulitis?
Prior diverticulitis episodes are the strongest independent predictor of a positive drain study.
Who Should Undergo Drain Studies After Percutaneous Drainage in Complicated Diverticulitis?
This study evaluated the role of interval drain studies following percutaneous abscess drainage in complicated diverticulitis.
We sought to identify patients who would benefit from these studies by assessing predictive factors for a positive drain study (positive drain study).
A single institution cohort study was performed on patients undergoing interval drain study following percutaneous abscess drainage for complicated diverticulitis.
prior diverticulitis more than triples the odds of a positive drain study
A total of 133 patients underwent drain studies.
A total of 28 (21.1%) patients had a positive drain study and 105 (78.9%) had negative drain studies (negative drain studies).
Mean percent decrease in pre-to post-drain WBC was smaller in positive drain study patients (-8.7 vs. -17.9%, p < 0.001).
A total of 78.6% of positive drain study patients had a persistent abscess and 14.3% had an increase in size of their abscess.
Patients with prior episodes of diverticulitis were more likely to have positive drain study following percutaneous abscess drainage in complicated diverticulitis, with elevated BMI and percent decrease in pre-drain leukocytosis also being associated with positive drain study.
These patients should receive stronger consideration for interval drain study.