Simultaneous Drainage of the Abscess Cavity and Intestinal Tract for an Intra-abdominal Abscess Secondary to Major Leakage: A Case Report

This case report describes a 72-year-old man who developed an intra-abdominal abscess and major postoperative anastomotic leakage. He reported a history of pancreaticoduodenectomy, partial hepatectomy, and segmental colectomy for hepatic and colonic invasion of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Three catheters, (one in the transverse colon and two in the abscess cavity) were placed simultaneously through the drainage tract formed by the intraoperatively placed Pleats drain. The intra-abdominal abscess resolved following this intervention and has not recurred since. Postoperative drainage and starvation were continued for 52 and 84 days, respectively. This case report describes a novel technique of catheter insertion from the abscess cavity into the intestine through the site of rupture to reduce intestinal pressure and partially block the enteric fistula.