We have drained 50 abscesses in 40 patients. The success rate was 100% for entering the abscess cavities and 98% for establishing catheter drainage. The success rate for treating the abscess (i.e., no surgery required) was 88%. We drained all abscesses for which a safe access route was available, regardless of the abscess's characteristics. Abscesses which are not unilocular may be successfully treated by percutaneous drainage. In critically ill patients and those unsuitable for surgery, catheter drainage is useful until the patient becomes stable. When surgery is not feasible, percutaneous procedures may be the patient's only hope for survival.