Impact of the COVID-19 era on clinical presentation, management and microbiology in paediatric peritonsillar abscess: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is the most common soft-tissue infection of the head and neck. This potential complication of tonsillitis has demonstrated unique microbial trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. This era has resulted in a major shift in the hygiene and social habits of the general population, which has resulted in changes in the presentation, management and microbiology of several infectious diseases. To date, the impact of COVID 19 on PTA microbiology and clinical presentation in the paediatric population has yet to be investigated. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review comparing all cases of paediatric (age 0-18) PTA in an academic tertiary centre during the COVID-19 pandemic (03/2020-02/2022) and compared them to two control groups: pre-COVID (03/2018-02/2020) and post-COVID (03/2022-03/2023). All patients were treated with either needle aspiration, incision and drainage or both means in addition to intravenous antibiotics. SETTING: A large Ear Nose and Throat department in a tertiary referral center. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive children aged 18 years or under, admitted with a diagnosis of Peritonsillar abscess. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We analyzed the clinical and microbiologcal features of all cases of pediatric peritonsillar abscess during the COVID-19 era (03/2020-02/2022) and compared them to a pre and post control cases. RESULTS: A total of 96 PTA cases were included (35 pre-COVID, 35 COVID and 26 post-COVID). The means of procedural treatment shifted in favour of incision and drainage versus needle aspiration during the COVID era. The length of hospitalisation increased during the COVID era (3.6 days vs. 2.1 and 3.1 pre and post-COVID respectively, p < .001). No other notable differences in the clinical and demographic features were found between the three eras. The COVID-19 era saw an increase in Fusobacterium (37.1% vs. 8.6% and 24% pre and post-COVID, respectively; p = .008) and Streptococcus Anginosus (31.4% vs. 5.7% and 7.7% pre and post-COVID, respectively; p = .007) species isolation. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic did not seem to impact the clinical presentation of paediatric PTA yet resulted in a change in microbiological pathogens. The choice of I&D as a means to shorten hospital stay during the pandemic may have led to an actual increase in hospital stay, suggesting that NA may be the preferred management approach.

Validation of an Educational Tool for Skin Abscess Incision and Drainage by Delphi and Angoff Methods.

BACKGROUND: Bedside incision and drainage (I&D) of skin abscesses is a common medical procedure performed in a variety of medical settings. Yet, there is a paucity of published validated educational tools to teach and assess competency for this procedure. OBJECTIVE: To validate an educational tool to teach and assess competency for bedside I&D of skin abscesses via the Delphi consensus and Angoff standard setting methods. DESIGN: Expert consensus on the importance of each procedural step in the educational tool was obtained using the Delphi method, consisting of four rounds of iterative revisions based on input from a panel of experts. The passing cut-off score for a proficient provider was determined using the modified dichotomous Angoff method. PARTICIPANTS: All participants met the minimum criteria of active involvement in resident education and performance of at least 20 skin abscess I&D's within the past 5 years. Participant specialties included general surgery, emergency medicine, and internal medicine. MAIN MEASURES: The primary outcome was consensus on procedural steps and errors, defined as an interquartile range ≤ 2 on a 9-point Likert scale. A cut-off score was determined by the average across all respondents for the anticipated number of errors that would be committed by a provider with the level of proficiency defined in the survey. Qualitative input was incorporated into the educational tool. KEY RESULTS: At the end of four rounds of review via the Delphi process, participants achieved consensus on 93% of items on the clinical checklist and 85% of errors on the assessment checklist. Via the modified dichotomous Angoff method, the determined passing cut-off for competency was 6 out of 22 errors. CONCLUSION: An educational and evaluation tool for bedside I&D of skin abscesses was validated via the Delphi and Angoff methods.

Leukopenia is an independent risk factor for early postoperative complications following incision and drainage of anorectal abscess.

AIM: Few data are available regarding the management of anorectal abscess in patients with leukopenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of leukopenia among patients undergoing incision and drainage for anorectal abscess. METHOD: A retrospective review of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database identified patients from 2015 to 2020. Perianal fistulas and supralevator abscesses were excluded. Patients were grouped based on white blood cell (WBC) count: WBC < 4.5 cells/µl, WBC = 4.5-11.0 cells/µl and WBC > 11.0 cells/µl. The 30-day overall complications and outcomes were compared using regression models, accounting for demographics and comorbidities. RESULTS: Ten thousand two hundred and forty (70.3% male) patients were identified. Univariate analysis showed that, compared with patients with leukocytosis (WBC > 11.0 cells/µl) and normal WBC count (WBC = 4.5-11.0 cells/µl), patients with leukopenia (WBC <4.5 cells/µl) had higher rates of overall (p < 0.001), pulmonary (p < 0.001) and haematological complications (p < 0.001). They also had higher rates of readmission (p < 0.001), reoperation (p = 0.005), discharge to a care facility (p = 0.003), increased length of hospital stay (p = 0.004) and death (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis identified leukopenia as an independent risk factor for overall complications [odds ratio (OR) 2.31, 95% CI 1.65-3.24; p < 0.001], pulmonary complications (OR 5.65, 95% CI 1.88-16.97; p = 0.002), haematological complications (OR 4.30, 95% CI 2.94-6.28; p < 0.001), unplanned readmission (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.43-3.40; p < 0.001), reoperation (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.10-2.93; p = 0.019) and death (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.02-7.52; p = 0.046). Discharge to a care facility and length of stay were not significant on multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: Leukopenia is associated with increased risk for pulmonary and haematological complications, readmissions, reoperations, discharge to a care facility and death after incision and drainage for anorectal abscess.

Endoscopic and radiological evidence refuting intra-abscess septae.

PURPOSE: To investigate the presence of septae within the lacrimal abscess and to explore simple aspiration as an alternative to the traditional management by incision and drainage. METHODS: Prospective, interventional pilot study involved eight lacrimal sac abscesses of eight patients over a period of three months. All patients underwent a pre-operative MRI with surface coils followed by aspiration of the abscess (n = 4) or incision and drainage of the abscess (n = 4). An intra-sac endoscopic evaluation was performed during the abscess drainage. Primary outcome measures - presence or absence of septae on MRI scan images and endoscopic evaluation of the abscess cavity. Secondary outcome measures - relief from pain and symptoms following aspiration and anatomical patency following definitive management. RESULTS: Eight patients underwent either aspiration (n = 4) or incision and drainage of the abscess (n = 4). Mean age of the patients 43.3 years and male to female ratio was 1:1. Left eye involvement was more common (Right: left = 1:3). Average duration of acute symptoms - 3.75 days. High resolution MRI showed a well- defined abscess cavity with few undulations which on endoscopic evaluation correlated with oedematous mucosal folds. There was absence of a loculi or septae within the abscess cavity. Definitive surgery in the form of endoscopic DCR was performed for all the patients with post-operative FICI grading was +5. CONCLUSION: The present study refutes the presence of septae within the abscess cavity and proposes aspiration of the lacrimal sac abscess as a minimally invasive procedure with minimal logistics and a shallow learning curve.

A successful management algorithm for vulvar abscess: A tertiary hospital experience.

AIM: To develop a treatment and management algorithm for vulvar abscess. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical findings and treatment modalities of patients hospitalized with vulvar abscess via a comprehensive literature review and a clinical study. Patients with a diagnosis of vulvar abscess (n = 28) between 2015 and 2019 in the gynecology clinic of our hospital were included in the clinical study. Each patient's age, obstetric history, body mass index, presence of concomitant diseases, abscess culture and size, mean length of hospital stay, treatment modalities, and recurrence rate were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age and body mass index of the patients were 47.7 ± 11.5 years and 30.3 ± 2.7 kg/m2 , respectively. Diabetes mellitus was the most common concomitant disease (60.7%, n = 17). The abscesses of 22 (78.5%) patients drained spontaneously. The abscess cavities of the remaining six (21.4%) patients were treated via incisional drainage. Gentamicin + clindamycin or levofloxacin + metronidazole were used as the primary antibiotic treatment. Hemovac drains were placed in four (14.2%) patients with abscess sites greater than 5 cm. By applying our treatment methods, 26 (92.8%) of our patients were discharged with full recovery, and two patients (7.2%) were referred due to uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. The recurrence rate of vulvar abscess was 0%. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study in the literature to present a successful algorithm for the treatment and management of vulvar abscess. Our treatment methods shed light on the treatment and management of vulvar abscess.

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of Intranasal Fentanyl as an Analgesic Adjunct For Incision and Drainage of Abscess.

BACKGROUND: Incision and drainage (I&D) of abscesses is one of the most painful procedures performed in emergency departments (EDs). OBJECTIVE: We tested the following hypothesis: The addition of intranasal fentanyl to the standard practice of local infiltration with lidocaine would provide better pain control than lidocaine alone for adult ED patients undergoing I&D. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind study. Participants received 2 µg/kg of intranasal fentanyl or a comparable amount of intranasal water in addition to local lidocaine infiltration. The primary outcome, which we assessed immediately after the I&D was completed, was a summary 0-10 pain score for which we asked study subjects to provide a number depicting their entire experience with the procedure. RESULTS: During a 19-month enrollment period, we screened 176 patients for eligibility and enrolled 49; 25 received placebo and 24 received fentanyl. Baseline characteristics were comparable. Mean (standard deviation) summary pain scores were as follows: fentanyl 6.2 (3.3) and placebo 7.0 (3.2). The 95% confidence interval for a rounded between-group difference of 0.9 was -1.1 to 2.6. CONCLUSIONS: In this small study, the addition of intranasal fentanyl did not substantially impact the pain scores of ED patients undergoing I&D.

Diagnosis and Management of Cellulitis and Abscess in the Emergency Department Setting: An Evidence-Based Review.

BACKGROUND: Cellulitis and abscess are a common reason for presentation to the emergency department, although there are several nuances to the care of these patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this narrative review article was to provide a summary of the background, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of cellulitis and abscesses with a focus on emergency clinicians. DISCUSSION: The most common bacteria causing cellulitis are Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and other ß-hemolytic streptococci, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus is most common in abscesses. The history and physical examination are helpful in differentiating cellulitis and abscess in many cases, and point-of-care ultrasound can be a useful tool in unclear cases. Treatment for cellulitis typically involves a penicillin or cephalosporin, and treatment of abscesses is incision and drainage. Loop drainage is preferred over the traditional incision and drainage technique, and adjunctive antibiotics can be considered. Most patients can be managed as outpatient. CONCLUSIONS: It is essential for emergency physicians to be aware of the current evidence regarding the diagnosis and management of patients with cellulitis and abscess.

Nonvenomous Snakebite in Pediatric Age Group-Wolf under a Sheep's Coat.

Nonvenomous snakebite, far outnumbering venomous bites, is a neglected occupational hazard in the Indian subcontinent. We encountered four cases of traditionally nonvenomous snakebite in pediatric age group with symptoms of limb swelling proximal to the bite site. All cases were found to have extensive fibrinous exudate and fibrinoid necrosis of the deeper layer of fat, deep to the intact skin and superficial layer of fat, extending far from the wound toward the proximal limb in continuity. This obscured presentation of infection and extensive necrosis of only the deeper layer of fat warrants exploratory incisions proximally for thorough debridement, underlying the normal appearing skin.

Incision and drainage of cutaneous abscess with or without cavity packing: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis of randomised controlled trials.

AIMS: To evaluate comparative outcomes of incision and drainage of cutaneous abscess with and without packing of the abscess cavity. METHODS: A systematic search of multiple electronic data sources was conducted, and all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing incision and drainage of cutaneous abscess with and without packing were included. Abscess recurrence at maximum follow-up period, need for second intervention, and development of fistula in-ano were the evaluated outcome parameters for the meta-analysis A Trial Sequential Analysis was conducted to determine the robustness of the findings. RESULTS: Eight RCTs reporting a total number of 485 patients who underwent incision and drainage of cutaneous abscess with (n = 243) or without (n = 242) packing of the abscess cavity were included. There was no significant difference in the risk of recurrence (risk ratio (RR) 1.31, P = 0.56), fistula-in-ano (RR 0.63, P = 0.28), and need for second intervention (RR 0.70, P = 0.05) between two groups. The results remained unchanged on sub-group analyses for ano-rectal abscess, paediatric patients, adult patients, and the use of antibiotics. The Trial Sequential Analysis demonstrated that the meta-analysis was not conclusive, and the results for recurrence were subject to type 2 error. CONCLUSION: Incision and drainage of cutaneous abscess with or without packing have comparable outcomes. However, considering the cost and post-operative pain associated with packing, performing the procedure without packing of the abscess cavity may be more favourable. The findings of the better quality ongoing RCTs may provide stronger evidence in favour of packing or non-packing.

Abscess Management: An Evidence-Based Review for Emergency Medicine Clinicians.

BACKGROUND: Abscesses are commonly evaluated and managed in the emergency department. Recent research has evaluated the use of ultrasonography, packing, incision and drainage (I&D), and antibiotics. There are evidence-based nuances to the management of specific types of abscesses, such as Bartholin, breast, dental, hidradenitis suppurativa, peritonsillar, and pilonidal abscesses. OBJECTIVE: This review provides emergency medicine clinicians with a summary of the current literature regarding abscess management in the emergency department. DISCUSSION: Ultrasound is valuable in diagnosing abscesses that are not clinically evident and in guiding I&D procedures. Although I&D is traditionally followed by packing, this practice may be unnecessary for small abscesses. Antibiotics, needle aspiration, and loop drainage are suitable alternatives to I&D of abscesses with certain characteristics. Oral antibiotics can improve outcomes after I&D, although this improvement must be weighed against potential risks. Many strategies are useful in managing Bartholin abscesses, with the Word catheter proving consistently effective. Needle aspiration is the recommended first-line therapy for small breast abscesses. Dental abscesses are often diagnosed with clinical examination alone, but ultrasound may be a useful adjunct. Acute abscess formation caused by hidradenitis suppurativa should be managed surgically by excision when possible, because I&D has a high rate of abscess recurrence. Peritonsillar abscesses can be diagnosed with either intraoral or transcervical ultrasound if clinical examination is inconclusive. Needle aspiration and I&D are both suitable for the management of peritonsillar abscesses. Pilonidal abscesses have traditionally been managed with I&D, but needle aspiration with antibiotics may be a suitable alternative. CONCLUSIONS: This review evaluates the recent literature surrounding abscess management for emergency medicine clinicians.

Ultrasound-Guided Transgluteal Sciatic Nerve Block for Gluteal Procedural Analgesia.

BACKGROUND: Adequate analgesia is difficult to achieve in patients with an abscess requiring incision and drainage (I&D). There has been a recent increase in regional anesthesia use in the emergency department (ED) to aid in acute musculoskeletal pain relief. Specifically, transgluteal sciatic nerve (TGSN) block has been used as an adjunct treatment for certain chronic lumbar and lower extremity pain syndromes in the ED. CASE REPORT: A 21-year-old woman presented to the ED with a painful gluteal abscess. The pain was so severe that the patient barely tolerated light palpation to the abscess area. Using dynamic ultrasound guidance, a TGSN block was performed with significant pain reduction. Ultrasonographic confirmation of abscess was obtained followed by definitive I&D. She was discharged from the ED and her incision site was healing well at the time of follow-up. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Abscess I&D is a common procedure in the ED. Procedural analgesia for I&D can be difficult to obtain. We describe the TGSN block as an additional analgesic option to be used for procedural analgesia. The use of regional anesthesia has the potential to decrease unwanted and at times dangerous side effects of opiate use and resource utilization of procedural sedation while optimizing patient comfort.

Management of difficult airway in a pregnant patient with severely reduced mouth opening.

Pregnancy is associated with a wide variety of oral and dental changes ranging from gingivitis to odontogenic infections. If left untreated, severe dental abscess can progress to Ludwig's angina, which is a potentially lethal cellulitis that rapidly extends to the neck region and may lead to life-threatening upper airway obstruction. We report the case of a pregnant woman who presented with intense throbbing pain, trismus and severely reduced mouth opening due to dental abscess for the last one week. She required incision and drainage of abscess with extraction of third molar under general anaesthesia. There are some significant challenges to anaesthesiologist like the risk of aspiration and failed intubation in patients with pregnancy and anticipated difficult airway. With counselling and proper preparation, we were able to manage this case with awake intubation. The potential merits of securing airway in conscious state with necessary steps in preparation are particularly discussed with emphasis of creating awareness among local healthcare practitioners.

Antibiotic therapy in the treatment of skin abscess meta-analysis.

Skin abscess is one of the most common infections of skin and soft tissues. Incision and drainage under local anesthesia is the mainstay of treatment. Although previous small-scale studies failed to show a benefit of antibiotics in patients with simple abscesses, the use of antibiotic therapy is still encountered in the treatment of uncomplicated skin abscesses in our practice. The purpose of our study was to evaluate existing data assessing the effect of adjuvant antibiotic therapy on abscess management. Although as indicated by two recent multicenter studies, antibiotics may provide a positive effect in the management, it is important to consider the risk of resistance associated with antibiotic overuse and to approach each case individually.

Antibiotic Duration, but Not Abscess Size, Impacts Clinical Cure of Limited Skin and Soft Tissue Infection After Incision and Drainage.

Antibiotics are frequently prescribed following incision and drainage of cutaneous abscesses. In subgroup analyses from a recent clinical trial, we observed higher likelihood of cure with antibiotic courses beyond 5 or 7 days (up to 10). Among this cohort, for abscesses ≤5 cm, size did not modify the antibiotic effect.

Formation rate of secondary anal fistula after incision and drainage of perianal Sepsis and analysis of risk factors.

BACKGROUND: The choice of surgery for perianal sepsis is currently controversial. Some people advocate one-time radical surgery for perianal sepsis, while others advocate incision and drainage. The objective of this study is to observe the formation probability of secondary anal fistula after incision and drainage in patients with perianal sepsis and determine factors that contribute to secondary anal fistula after incision and drainage. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted in 288 patients with perianal sepsis who were treated with anorectal surgery in the Suzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2016 to June 2018. The patients were followed by telephone, physical examination, and pelvic MRI examination for at least 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: Three patients were not followed, 98 patients did not receive surgical treatment or one-time radical surgery for perianal sepsis, and 187 patients were ultimately identified for the study. Anal fistula was present in 105 patients, and the rate of formation of secondary anal fistula was 56.15%. There was no statistically significant difference in the fistula formation rate between different types of sepsis (P>0.05). And, in patients with secondary anal fistula, there was no significant correlation between the location of sepsis and the type of secondary anal fistula (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of secondary anal fistula after incision and drainage of perianal sepsis is 56.15%, which is lower than the incidence found in previous study. Young is a risk factor for secondary anal fistula after incision and drainage of perianal sepsis. There is no significant correlation between the location of sepsis and the type of secondary anal fistula. Simple incision and drainage is a suitable choice for patients with acute perianal sepsis.

The Limited Utility of Routine Culture in Pediatric Pilonidal, Gluteal, and Perianal Abscesses.

BACKGROUND: Pilonidal, buttock, and perianal abscesses are common reasons for surgical consultation in the pediatric emergency department. Treatment typically includes a bedside incision and drainage, often followed by an abscess culture, and a course of oral antibiotics. We aimed to study the impact of culture data on changes in management and clinical outcomes. We hypothesized that management is unaffected by culture data, and therefore, fluid culture from pilonidal, buttock, and perianal abscesses in the pediatric population may represent an unnecessary laboratory test and cost. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single institution's electronic medical record was searched between February 1, 2013 and August 1, 2017, identifying 249 pediatric patients meeting the inclusion criteria: age 0 to 18 y; diagnosis of pilonidal, buttock, or perianal abscess; bedside incision and drainage. Patients were divided into two different comparison groups for data analysis based on the presence or absence of culture and recurrence or no recurrence. RESULTS: Culture results directly altered management in only 5 patient encounters (2.7% of all cultured). When comparing groups by culture or no culture, no statistically significant difference in recurrence rate (P = 0.4) was noted. When comparing groups by recurrence versus no recurrence, we found no statistically significant difference between sex, resident type, vessel loop use, packing use, or antibiotic use (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that microbiological culture results are of limited utility in the management of pediatric pilonidal, buttock, and perianal abscesses as they do not appear to alter treatment, and omission of culture is not associated with failure of surgical management.

Comparison of needle aspiration versus incision and drainage under local anaesthesia for the initial treatment of peritonsillar abscess.

PURPOSE: The treatment of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is still controversial regarding the best method of drainage to perform. This study aims to compare effectiveness and safety of needle aspiration versus incision and drainage under local anaesthesia for the initial treatment of PTA. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients (age > 15 years) admitted in two tertiary medical centres for a PTA between November 2010 and October 2016 was performed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the type of drainage: needle aspiration or incision and drainage, under local anaesthesia. The primary outcome was the length of hospital stay; the need to repeat the procedure or to go to the operating room was also assessed. Complications or adverse events were listed in each group to assess safety. RESULTS: Over a 6-year period, 182 patients were admitted for a PTA and included in the analysis, with 82 patients in the aspiration group and 100 patients in the incision group. Mean age was 36.3 years, with a sex ratio of 1.33. The length of hospital stay ranged from 1 to 7 days (mean 2.7 days, median 2 days) with a median length of stay of 3.0 days (interquartile range 2-4) in the aspiration group versus 2.0 days (IQR 2-3) in patients who underwent incision and drainage (p = 0.009). A repetition of the needle aspiration was made for 46.3% of patients versus 10% of repetition of the procedure in the incision group (p = 0.0001). 12 patients (14%) of the aspiration group and 4 patients (4%) of the incision group required an additional drainage under general anaesthesia (p < 0.001). We found no differences regarding safety in both groups. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a significant decrease in the length of hospital stay in patients admitted for a PTA who underwent an initial incision and drainage under local anaesthesia, compared to needle aspiration, as well as a lower risk of repeating the procedure. A well-designed prospective and randomized study on a larger sample of patients is required to support these findings.

Predictors of outcomes in managing breast abscesses-A large retrospective single-center analysis.

We have retrospectively examined a wide range of clinical characteristics, sonographic features, microbiology, and antibiotic regimens in patients with breast abscesses to seek predictive features related to outcome. Because consensus for optimal treatment of breast abscesses has moved toward minimally invasive management using single or repeated needle aspiration (ASP) coupled with adjuvant antibiotics, we assessed whether any factors correlate with the need for repeat procedures by analyzing the number of ASPs and/or surgical incision and drainage (I&D) per abscess. We examined 127 abscesses in 114 patients from a single urban public hospital, and among clinical characteristics, we found that only smoking history (P = .021) and the presence of nipple rings (P = .005) were associated with greater likelihood of necessitating repeat for abscess resolution procedures. Neither diabetes, lactational status, and HIV nor ultrasound features imaging of an abscess including size >3 cm, multiloculation, rind thickness, or central vs peripheral location were correlated with the need for a repeat procedure. Likewise, no specific micro-organisms predicted a greater likelihood of requiring repeat procedures, and no specific initial antibiotic regimen (gram-positive and/or gram-negative or multiresistance coverage) impacted clinical outcomes. Our data indicate that no specific imaging abscess characteristics, type of micro-organism, or initial choice of antibiotics affect outcomes, and therefore, these features should not preclude attempts at conventional therapy by repeated aspiration and antibiotic treatment. While a smoking history and presence of a nipple ring may increase the risk of a prolonged course, the decision to change antibiotics or repeat aspiration should rely instead on clinical evaluation and judgment by experienced physicians.

Comparison of the loop technique with incision and drainage for soft tissue abscesses: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Skin and soft tissue infections are a common presentation to the emergency department. Traditional management of abscesses involves a linear incision through the center of the abscess with packing placed. The loop drainage technique (LDT) is an alternate approach that may reduce pain and scarring, as well as decrease the number of follow up visits needed. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of the LDT with conventional incision and drainage (CID) in the treatment of soft tissue abscesses. METHODS: PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and bibliographies of selected articles were assessed for all retrospective, prospective, or randomized controlled trials comparing the LDT to CID with an outcome of treatment failure, as defined by the individual study. Data were double extracted into a predefined worksheet and quality analysis was performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Data were summarized and a meta-analysis was performed with subgroup analyses by adult versus pediatric age groups. RESULTS: This systematic review identified four studies comprising 470 total patients. Overall, the CID technique failed in 25 of 265 cases (9.43%). The LDT failed in 8 of 195 cases (4.10%). There was an odds ratio of 2.63 (95% CI 1.04 to 6.63) in favor of higher failures in the CID group. Funnel plot analysis demonstrated no evidence of publication bias. Subgroups analysis by age group demonstrated improved efficacy of the LDT in pediatric patients, but the adult subgroup did not reach statistical significance. DISCUSSION: The existing literature suggests that LDT is associated with a lower failure rate than CID. However, the data is limited by small sample sizes and predominantly retrospective study designs. Given the potential for less pain, decreased scarring, and lower associated healthcare costs, this technique should be considered for the treatment of skin and soft tissue abscesses in the ED setting, but further studies are needed.