Percutaneous transthoracic catheter drainage for lung abscess: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

• The pooled treatment success rate of PCD for lung abscess was reasonably high (86.5%); malignancy-related abscesses and the occurrence of a major complication were predictors of treatment failure. • The pooled rate of percutaneous transthoracic catheter drainage-related major complications was 8.1% and traversing normal lung parenchyma by the catheter was the only risk factor. • The pooled mortality rate from uncontrolled lung abscesses with percutaneous transthoracic catheter drainage was low.