EUS-Guided Drainage for Pelvic Abscesses: A Chinese Single-Center Two-year Follow-up Study Highlighting Clinical Outcomes

Background and Aim of Study Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)- guided drainage has emerged as a novel technique for managing pelvic abscesses. This single-center retrospective study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of EUS-guided drainage in treating pelvic abscesses of varying etiologies from 2021 to the present. Patients and Methods Consecutive patients with pelvic abscesses who underwent EUS-guided drainage were retrospectively reviewed. Etiologies included appendiceal abscess secondary to acute appendicitis (n = 1), pelvic abscesses resulting from anastomotic leaks following rectal cancer surgery (n = 2), and perianal abscesses associated with Crohn's disease (n = 7). The primary outcome was technical success and reduction in abscess cavity size, assessed via follow-up imaging. Secondary outcomes included post-procedural complications and resolution of the abscess without additional interventions. Results EUS-guided drainage was technically successful in all cases. The median reduction in abscess size was statistically significant (Mean SD: 24.1 ± 11.11, p < 0.05). During follow-up, imaging results confirmed significantly reduced in size of pelvic abscesses in 9 patients, except for one case at the 1-month post-procedure. None of the patients required further surgical intervention, and 2 cases recurrences were observed in the sixth- and tenth-months post-treatment. Additionally, no procedure-related complications were reported. Conclusion EUS-guided drainage is a safe and effective therapeutic option for managing pelvic abscesses of various etiologies. Its efficacy, particularly in Crohn's disease-related cases, and the absence of complications in this cohort, suggest significant potential for broader clinical application.