Alteplase for Percutaneous Treatment of Loculated Abdominopelvic Abscesses

The use of fibrinolytics for the percutaneous drainage of loculated pleural effusions has been shown to reduce the catheter dwell time and to improve drainage of the effusions. Abscesses in the abdomen and pelvis are often loculated which makes percutaneous drainage difficult. We hypothesize that the infusion of alteplase via a drainage catheter into the loculated abscess collections of the abdomen and pelvis will similarly decrease catheter dwell time and improve overall abscess drainage. The direct injection of Activase into abscess cavities utilizes a very low dose of drug within a closed environment which should not be associated with any significant risk of hemorrhage. To date, there does not appear to be a significant risk of systemic hemorrhagic complications associated with the use of intracavitary thrombolytics for the drainage of abdominopelvic abscesses although only a few such studies have been reported. We hope to prove that the use alteplase for intracavitary thrombolysis improves outcomes associated with percutaneous catheter drainage of loculated abscess collections without increasing complications or costs.

The design of the trial will be as a single-center, prospective, open-label, randomized trial comparing the infusion of Activase versus saline for treatment of loculated abdominopelvic abscesses requiring percutaneous drainage. Patients with loculated abdominopelvic abscesses who are referred for percutaneous drainage will be eligible for this study. Patients will undergo standard placement of a 10-12 french percutaneous drain into their abscess cavity under computed tomography guidance. If the entire contents of the abscess cavity cannot be aspirated at the time of initial catheter placement, the abscess will be assumed to be loculated. The patient will then be randomized to have their abscess catheter irrigated twice a day with a volume of fluid approximately equal to the one-half the residual volume of the abscess. In the control group, the normal saline will be fluid instilled into the abscess cavity. The study group will receive Activase reconstituted in sterile water and then diluted to the appropriate volume with normal saline.