Abstract:
Background: Conservative therapies of pelvic abscess are not highly effective and surgical treatment is usually required.
This study reviewed cases of pelvic abscess treated at our hospital over a 3-year period to evaluate treatment
efficacy. The medical records of 20 patients diagnosed with pelvic abscess and admitted to our hospital for treatment
between November 2006 and December 2009 were retrospectively examined. Results: Mean age of the patients was 50
± 16.6 years. Pelvic abscess occurred spontaneously in 13 patients and secondary to surgical manipulation in 7 patients.
In the 13 patients with spontaneous abscess, 7 had undergone pelvic surgery and 2 had undergone insertion of an intrauterine
contraceptive device. Concomitant endometriosis was present in 5 of the 13 (38.5%) patients. A positive bacterial
culture from the abscess was obtained in 16 of 19 (84.2%) patients tested. Causative bacteria included 4 aerobic
bacterial species detected in 7 patients and 11 anaerobic bacterial species detected in 10 patients. Although multiple
antibiotics were administered in all cases, 19 of the 20 (95%) patients eventually required surgical intervention, which
included total hysterectomy plus adnexectomy, drainage under laparotomy or drainage alone. Anaerobic bacteria were
frequently detected as the causative bacteria. Conclusion: As treatment with antibiotics alone was ineffective in almost
all cases, surgical treatment was required. Drainage might be the first-choice treatment for pelvic abscess to avoid invasive
surgery.
