• Rafael Gaszynski, Gratian Punch, and Kurt Verschuer.
• Department of General Surgery, Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital, Nowra, New South Wales, Australia.
• ANZ J Surg. 2018 Jan 1; 88 (1-2): 87-90.

BackgroundThis study evaluated the safety, efficacy and compliance of an emerging technique for managing complex subcutaneous abscesses in an adult population (≥16 years).MethodsA retrospective review of prospectively collected data between April and October 2015 at a rural hospital comparing conventional incision drainage (CID) and repetitive packing to the minimal incision, irrigation, loop and drain technique (LDT). LDT method was consistent with previous publications, being ≤5 mm incisions at abscess edges, irrigation and passage of a VessiLoop through the cavity and then secured above the skin. The loop remained in situ until resolution. Both groups had empirical oral antibiotics.ResultsSixty-three patients required intervention for complex subcutaneous abscess: CID group had 27 patients and LDT had 36 patients. The mean age of CID group was 43.9 years (range: 16-86 years), all required intervention in theatre with 10 patients lost to follow-up (37%) and the remaining 17 required a mean of 11.8 (range: 1-17) care visits. The mean age of LDT group was 34.9 years (range: 16-62 years), 11 completed intervention in ED under local anaesthetic (30%) and 27 required general anaesthesia. Compliance to follow-up clinic was 100%: 27 seen once at 10-14 days with loop removal and nine were seen a second time to complete care. There were no re-operations.ConclusionThis is the first LDT data in adults and proves it is safe and effective. It saves operating theatre time with 30% of LDT treated in the Emergency Department and ensures excellent follow-up compliance as patients return for VessiLoop removal. Healthcare burden is greatly reduced using LDT; most patients require only one review at 10-14 days.© 2016 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

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