[Perforation of the right ventricle of the heart as a complication of CT guided percutaneous drainage of a subphrenic abscess - a case report].

Introduction: CT guided percutaneous drainage is currently the gold standard in the treatment of abdominal fluid collections, having substituted open surgical drainage in many cases. It burdens the patient less than surgical drainage. Its efficiency is comparable to standard surgical drainage when properly indicated. It is readily available even in smaller hospitals. However, this method can also have many complications, which originate most often from an improperly targeted drainage catheter.

Case Report: The authors describe a case report of a 55 years old man with a right-sided subphrenic abscess. The right ventricle of the heart was perforated during a CT guided percutaneous drainage. The bleeding was minimal, but the patient suffered a profound septic shock as a result of massive bacteremia during direct communication of the contents of the abscess cavity with blood circulation. He was operated immediately. The right ventricle was sutured, and the subphrenic abscess was drained. There were no complications after the operation, and the patient was discharged on day 17 after the surgery.

Conclusion: The CT guided drainage of an abdominal abscess or a fluid collection in a risk area should be preferably done in hospitals whose therapeutic portfolio also includes the handling of serious complications.

Key Words: heart injury drainage.