Loop Drainage: Effectiveness in Treating Cutaneous Abscesses

Study Summary

In the Emergency Department (ED), patients frequently seek medical treatment for cutaneous abscesses. Traditional incision and drainage (I\&D), with or without packing of cutaneous abscesses has long been the accepted standard of care. This procedure is often very painful for the patient. Additionally, compliance with wound care and follow-up can present barriers to proper care and healing. Research has suggested that incision and loop drainage of an abscess may be another effective treatment for simple cutaneous abscess. Thus far, research into this procedure has been limited to the pediatric population with small sample sizes. In these previous studies, this technique was found to be an effective and less painful treatment for abscesses. Research has not been done in the adult population using this procedure. If this procedure is found to be as effective and less painful in the adult population, then it should be considered as a potential preferred I\&D method for cutaneous abscess in the ED.

Primary Outcome

Determining the difference in failure rates between the study group and control group. Treatment failure is a composite outcome defined as having the presence of any of the following: requiring a 2nd incision and drainage procedure, a patient that requires administration of antibiotics after the initial treatment period due to worsening clinical status, a patient that requires hospitalization after the initial treatment period due to worsening clinical status.

Interventions

• PROCEDURE Traditional Incision and Drainage.
• PROCEDURE Loop drainage