Percutaneous drainage of fluid collections in the bladder flap of febrile post-cesarean-section patients. A report of seven cases

Post-cesarean-section infections are a common cause of fevers on obstetric wards. Patients whose fevers are refractory to antibiotics often have pelvic collections. The contents of these collections and course of patients with collections have not been reported on before in detail. The development of sophisticated imaging techniques has led us to the frequent use of percutaneous drainage in the managment of abdominal collections. We used percutaneous drainage of collections in febrile post-cesarean-section patients. Hematomas were the most common collections associated with post-cesarean-section infection, and percutaneous drainage was a useful technique for obtaining material for culture and for distinguishing hematomas from abscesses. Most patients defervesced shortly after percutaneous drainage.