What is image-guided drainage?
Image-guided drainage involves using a catheter (a thin tube) to drain an abscess or a collection of fluid or air under image guidance. A flexible catheter is inserted through a tiny cut in your skin and guided to the collection of fluid or air. The fluid or air will then be collected in a drainage bag.
The purpose of drainage is to establish a diagnosis, to relieve symptoms and cure/drain an infected fluid collection.
Smaller collections may only require aspiration with a small needle/syringe to completely drain it.
How is image-guided drainage performed?
A variety of imaging tools, including ultrasound, CT, and/or fluoroscopy, may be used to help place the needle/catheter precisely in the area that requires draining. This depends on the location in the body and nature of the lesion.
Most drainage procedures are performed under local anaesthesia (or conscious sedation), so you will be awake but feel no pain. You may be asked to take antibiotics beforehand to reduce the risk of infection or stop certain blood thinning medications. You will lie down for the procedure – the exact position you will be asked to lie in depends on the access route that is used to safely approach the lesion.
