Incision and drainage

Incision and drainage is a procedure that opens an abscess or other fluid-filled collection and empties its contents to relieve infection, pain, or pressure.

Abscess: A localized collection of pus caused by infection and surrounded by inflamed tissue. An abscess is the common target that incision and drainage opens.
Skin abscess: A collection of pus within the skin or tissues immediately beneath it. This is the most familiar indication for a bedside incision and drainage.
Cellulitis: A spreading bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue without a discrete pus cavity. Unlike an abscess, cellulitis without a collection is not treated by incision and drainage.
Wound culture: Laboratory testing of material from a wound to identify microorganisms and guide treatment. Culturing drained material can guide antibiotics in selected or severe infections.
Fluctuance: A soft, compressible area indicating fluid beneath the surface of tissue. Fluctuance can signal a drainable collection beneath the skin.
Paronychia: An infection of the tissue bordering a fingernail or toenail, sometimes forming a pus collection. A localized nail-fold collection may be opened to relieve pressure and infection.
Pus: A thick fluid made largely of immune cells, microbes, and tissue debris during infection. The procedure evacuates pus from the infected cavity.
Recurrence: The return of a disease or condition after it has improved or resolved. A collection can reform if its cause persists or drainage is incomplete.
Local anesthesia: Loss of sensation in a limited body area while consciousness remains intact. Local anesthesia reduces pain during the incision and evacuation.
Bartholin gland cyst: A fluid-filled swelling caused by blockage of a Bartholin gland duct near the vaginal opening. An infected or painful cyst may need drainage, often with a catheter-based approach.

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