Percutaneous drainage of abdominal and pelvic collections is one of the most commonly performed interventional procedures. One of the absolute contraindications to this procedure is which of the following?

The consideration of lacking a safe pathway to the collection as an absolute contraindication for percutaneous drainage is crucial. In interventional procedures, especially those involving invasive techniques like drainage of abdominal and pelvic collections, the proceduralist must be able to navigate safely to the area needing intervention. If there is no safe pathway, it significantly increases the risk of damaging surrounding structures, causing bleeding, or introducing infection.

The safe pathway ensures that the needle or catheter can be placed in a manner that minimizes complications while accessing the collection. Without such a pathway, proceeding with the procedure would expose the patient to unnecessary risks. This principle is fundamental to maintaining patient safety and effective intervention in interventional radiology, making the lack of a safe pathway an absolute contraindication for percutaneous drainage.

In contrast, conditions like coagulopathy can often be managed with appropriate preparations or interventions, while certain types of cysts or abscesses can still be treated based on other clinical judgments and safety protocols.