Incision and drainage versus incision and drainage with primary closure and use of closed suction drain in acute abscesses.

INTRODUCTION Acute abscesses are one of the most common acute problems seen in the surgical department of the R.D. Gardi Medical College (Ujjain, Madyha Pradesh, India). A conventional method used in the treatment of abscess is incision and drainage. The aim of this study was to compare the conventional method of incision and drainage with the alternative method of incision and drainage with primary closure, and use of a closed suction drain to reduce secondary infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS One hundred fifty patients admitted to the authors' hospital with an abscess were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group A included 75 patients treated by incision and drainage with primary closure and use of a closed suction drain; Group B included 75 patients treated by the conventional method of incision and drainage only. RESULTS Healing time in Group A patients was less than that of Group B patients. The length of hospital stay and number of additional hospital visits for dressing changes were less for Group A patients. CONCLUSION The method of incision and drainage with primary closure combined with use of a closed suction drain is more effective than that of incision and drainage only.