Necrotizing fasciitis as a complication of percutaneous catheter drainage of an intra-abdominal abscess

Computerized tomography or ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage has replaced surgery as the preferred method of treatment for intra-abdominal abscesses and is generally regarded as safe. The authors, however, report a case of necrotizing fasciitis complicating percutaneous drainage of a postoperative intra-abdominal abscess. This potentially fatal complication illustrates that successful percutaneous drainage of an abscess does not eliminate the need to closely monitor the patient's subsequent clinical course. Successful treatment of necrotizing fasciitis depends on early recognition, radical debridement, aggressive fluid resuscitation, and diligent postoperative wound care.