Frequently Asked Questions

Local anesthesia to the skin where the device will enter and exit, as well as the wall of the abscess, can be helpful to control pain during the procedure. 

If the abscess collection appears to be fluctuant, with no loculations that may require instrumentation, local aesthetic injection at the entry and exit points for the device may be adequate. A standard regional block may be preferred if a need for significant instrumentation is anticipated.  Using topical anesthetic such as LMX prior to injection may be helpful, especially in children. 

Yes, the Quickloop can be used as a temporizing measure to relieve acute pain and infection. Definitive treatment for pilonidal abscesses generally requires surgical excision.

Yes, it is possible. Decisions on home irrigation should be made by the treating clinician. 

It is safe and easy for patients to remove the device at home as long as clinical cure has been determined. 

The Quickloop should stay in place until a clinical cure has been determined, but should not remain longer than 28 days. 

For most abscesses, Quickloop would be removed after 3-10 days.  The decision should be based on adequate healing progression and minimal residual drainage.  The decision to remove the device may be determined during an in-person or telemedicine visit. Alternatively, the clinician can instruct the patient how to remove the device themself once clinical cure is met.

Smallest abscess - There is no limitation for the smallest abscess size treatable with the Quickloop Abscess Treatment Device. However, the literature suggests that abscesses smaller than 1.3 cm should probably not be treated with an I&D or loop technique, but should be treated with antibiotics and warm compresses alone. 

Largest abscess - There is no limitation for the largest abscess size treatable with the Quickloop Abscess Treatment Device. However, if the loop is round, the largest size for a single loop would be 8-10 cm (incisions that are made with the Quickloop introducer are approximately 4 cm apart, and if a curved instrument is inserted into each of the incision and rotated 360 degrees coverage would extend to 8-10 cm). If the abscess margins extend beyond the reach of an instrument placed through one of the incisions, further information can be found in the literature.