Tropical liver abscess.

Forty-one consecutive cases of liver abscesses seen at the National University Hospital, Singapore from 1988 to 1994 were reviewed. Twenty-seven cases (65%) were pyogenic, six (15%) amoebic, two (5%) tuberculous and six (15%) indeterminate. The predominance of pyogenic abscesses is in marked contrast to previous studies from the region a decade ago in which amoebic abscesses were the commonest type. The commonest pathogen causing pyogenic abscess was Klebsiella pneumoniae. Two cases were due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and this organism needs to be actively looked for in smears and cultures of aspirated material. As the majority of organisms isolated were resistant to ampicillin, empirical antibiotic treatment for suspected pyogenic abscess should include gentamicin or a cephalosporin. Percutaneous needle aspiration of the abscess was performed for 85% of pyogenic abscesses and surgery was necessary in only two cases because of complications. We found that percutaneous aspiration of liver abscess is helpful to confirm the diagnosis, provides a better bacteriological culture yield, gives a good outcome, and may uncover clinically unsuspected conditions like malignancy and tuberculoma which may mimic the presentation of liver abscesses. We recommend routine cytological examination of aspirated abscess material as well as stains and cultures for acid-fast bacilli.     

Ultrasound in the diagnosis of palpable abdominal masses in children

Ultrasound examinations were done to evaluate clinically palpable abdominal masses in 125 children. The examinations were normal in 21 patients. In 15 patients, the clinically palpable masses were actually anterior abdominal wall abscesses or hematomas. Final diagnosis was available in 87 of 89 patients with intraabdominal masses detected on ultrasound. The majority (71%) were retroperitoneal masses where two-thirds were of renal origin. Ultrasound diagnosis was correct in 68 patients (78%). All cases of hydronephrosis were correctly diagnosed based on characteristic ultrasound appearances. Correct diagnoses of all cases of adrenal hematoma, psoas abscess, liver hematoma, liver abscess and one case of liver metastases were achieved with correlation of relevant clinical information.     

Halothane hepatitis

This report describes five cases of hepatocellular injury following halothane anesthesia. Four patients had multiple exposures to the anesthetic. Three of the five died from submassive to massive liver cell necrosis. The two survivors developed jaundice and/or dark urine following each exposure to halothane; liver biopsy in one showed centrilobular and linear areas of necrosis. Fever, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and jaundice were present in all cases. In the two survivors the prothrombin time was less than 20 seconds throughout the course of the disease, whereas in the three who died the prothrombin time was more than 20 seconds from the onset. The English literature to the end of 1971 is reviewed. Approximately 600 cases of halothane-related hepatitis have been reported     

Jaundice clearance and cholangitis in the first year following portoenterostomy for biliary atresia

Sixty-one patients with biliary atresia, who underwent portoenterostomy (PE) between 1992 to 1998 in the Institute of Pediatrics, Kuala Lumpur and were followed for a period of one year, were studied to analyze the factors associated with jaundice clearance and cholangitis following PE. Sex distribution was equal. Majority of patients were Malays. Mean age in days at admission to the surgical ward was 66.90 +/- 23.36 and mean age at PE was 75.85 +/- 24.05. At the end of one-year follow-up, six patients (10%) had died, 35 (57%) developed one or more attacks of cholangitis, 35 (57%) had portal hypertension, eight (13%) liver failure and six patients had esophageal variceal bleeding. Thirty-three patients (54%) had jaundice clearance with a mean clearance time of 85 days after PE. The study shows that when the ductules in the porta hepatis were < 150 mu in size, persistence of jaundice after PE and the incidence of cholangitis in the first post-operative year were higher; patients with cholangitis in the first year had lower rate of jaundice clearance. Jaundice clearance was achieved in more patients when their postnatal age at the time of PE was lower but the relationship was not linear. Age at PE also did not have a linear temporal relationship to the incidence of cholangitis and the size of portal ductules. Prospective, multi-center based local studies on a bigger patient population are needed to identify other indicators of successful outcome following PE. This would help to define the indications for primary liver transplantation in the local population.     

肝癌介入栓塞术后并发肝脓肿的原因分析与护理干预

目的 回顾性分析肝癌介入治疗后发生肝脓肿的危险因素,探讨肝癌介入术后并发肝脓肿的临床护理要点.方法 回顾性分析2003年2月-2010年2月822例肝癌介入治疗术后并发肝脓肿17例临床资料,随机抽取同期17例肝癌介入治疗后无肝脓肿患者作为对照组.观察并发肝脓肿的临床表现、治疗转归等临床特点,并总结其临床护理要点.结果 822例患者TACE术1 694次中共发生19次肝脓肿,发病率为1.12％.肝脓肿临床表现有肝大、肝区疼痛、发热、白细胞增多,发病时间为术后9-29(18±9)d.除1例由于诊断治疗不及时死亡外,余16例均康复出院.结论 肝癌肝动脉化疗栓塞术(TACE)后肝脓肿并发症具有一定的临床特点,术前胆道梗阻是TACE并发肝脓肿的易感因素;针对性的观察和护理有助于改善预后.     

Percutaneous drainage of liver abscess complicated by hepato-venous fistula

Severe systemic sepsis after percutaneous drainage of liver abscess is rare. We report two cases of hepato-venous fistulas between hepatic abscesses and hepatic/portal veins documented on abscessography during percutaneous drainage of liver abscesses, which resulted in severe sepsis and a stormy post drainage clinical course. Liver abscesses can rupture into the portal and hepatic veins causing worsening of systemic sepsis especially when they are in close proximity to each other. During percutaneous drainage, care must also be taken to avoid overinjection of the abscess, which can worsen the fistula. The ensuing sepsis is severe and requires aggressive intensive medical care and ventilatory support to tide the patient over the septic episode.     

乙肝相关慢加急性肝衰竭患者临床短期预后因素的分析

  目的  探讨终末期肝病模型(MELD)评分、总胆红素、白蛋白、国际标准化比值、凝血酶原活动度与乙肝相关的慢加急性肝衰竭(ACLF)患者短期预后的关系。  方法  收集2018年1月—2020年12月蚌埠医学院第一附属医院感染性疾病科住院的乙肝相关ACLF患者124例,收集患者肝功能、凝血功能等相关指标数据,注意患者是否行人工肝治疗,并进行MELD评分。根据患者入院后90 d是否存活,分为存活组(68例)和死亡组(56例)。分别比较2组患者的MELD评分、总胆红素、白蛋白、国际标准化比值、凝血酶原活动度、年龄,使用logistic回归分析研究各项指标与HBV-ACLF患者预后的关系。  结果  存活组患者的MELD评分、国际标准化比值、总胆红素、年龄分别为(22.66±4.69)分、1.72±0.42、(281.09±94.21)μmol/L、(40.54±7.39)岁,均显著低于死亡组[(31.38±5.39)分、2.64±0.61、(360.54±130.97)μmol/L、(45.73±12.72)岁],差异均有统计学意义(均P＜0.05);存活组患者白蛋白、凝血酶原活动度分别为(31.21±3.83)g/L、(35.95±11.82)%,均显著高于死亡组患者[(28.43±4.46)g/L、(29.54±12.10)%],差异均有统计学意义(均P＜0.05)。Logistic回归分析显示,MELD评分高、高水平TBil、高水平INR、年龄大是ACLF患者的独立危险因素,高水平Alb、高水平PTA是ACLF患者的保护因素。  结论  MELD评分、总胆红素、白蛋白、国际标准化比值、凝血酶原活动度均可作为预测ACLF患者短期预后的相关指标。      

早期急性重症胰腺炎预后因素分析

目的 分析入院24 h内急性重症胰腺炎（SAP）的预后因素.方法 回顾性分析2006年2月至2009年7月本院初诊收治的发病72 h内入院的SAP 127例,按预后分为生存组102例和死亡组25例,分析2组入院24 h内临床和实验室检查资料的差异,并行统计学处理.结果 死亡组在心率、呼吸、动脉血氧分压、pH值、血清钙、血钾、血肌酐、血尿素氮、剩余碱、乳酸脱氢酶、血清白蛋白及APACHE Ⅱ评分上同生存组差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）.较高的APACHE Ⅱ评分为死亡高危因素.结论 SAP死亡者具有较严重的多脏器功能衰竭及内环境紊乱.心率、呼吸、动脉血氧分压、pH值、血清钙、血钾、血肌酐、血尿素氮、剩余碱、乳酸脱氢酶、血清白蛋白及APACHEⅡ评分是死亡早期高危因素.     

成批中重度烧伤患者长途转送后的救治

目的:分析成批危重烧伤患者长途转运后并发症及总结其救治经验。方法:两批烧伤中的重度烧伤患者13名,分别于伤后3 d和4 d由外地长途空运转入,烧伤面积75％±25％,Ⅲ度烧伤面积63％±34％且有中度吸人性损伤;入院时所有患者已出现创面溶痂,大部分患者分别或同时有休克、严重高钠血症、白细胞总数低、低蛋白血症、应激性溃疡出血等并发症。治疗措施包括:①入院后尽快行相关检查,掌握病情;尽快处理休克和严重高钠血症等危及生命并发症。②尽快手术封闭创面。③加强抗感染治疗的同时,积极实施器官功能及免疫支持。结果:入院后并发症得到迅速纠正,大部分患者顺利恢复。5例Ⅲ度烧伤面积≥95％患者伤后2周左右始出现脓毒症和器官功能不全。经积极对症处理和器官支持等治疗3例治愈,2例分别因自体皮极度匮乏和急性乙型肝炎而死亡。结论:成批烧伤中的危重患者长途转运后极易出现危及生命的并发症;掌握并发症发生特点并及早处理是成功救治的关键。     

前白蛋白、总胆汁酸、凝血酶原活动度及胆固醇检测对肝功能分期及判断预后的临床意义

目的探讨血清前白蛋白、总胆汁酸、胆固醇、凝血酶原活动度对肝功能分级及判断预后的意义。方法将慢性肝病患者108例,根据Child—Pugh改良分级法分为Child A级组（53例）,Child B级组（30例）及Child C级组（25例）。选取健康体检者24例作为对照。分别取肘静脉血做血清总蛋白、白蛋白、总胆红素、前白蛋白、总胆汁酸、胆固醇及凝血酶原活动度测定,并进行腹部彩超检查了解肝、脾、门静脉宽度及腹水情况。结果①Child A、B、C三组血清白蛋白平均值为35．9mg／L、29．1mg／L和26mg／L,前白蛋白为207mg／L、110．2mg／L和76．2mg／L,胆固醇为4．5nmol／L、3．6nmol／L和2．3nmol／L,较对照组明显下降（P〈0,05）;②Child A、B、C三组总胆汁酸水平分别为13．4μmol／L、31．5μmol／L和58．53μmol／L,组间比较有显著性差异（P〈0．05）;③凝血酶原时间三组分别为14．5s、15．7s和20．2s。而凝血酶原活动度为84．1％、62％和37．7％,组间比较有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。④Child C组死亡的6例中,血清前白蛋白〈100mg／L,总胆汁酸〉30μmol／L,胆固醇〈2．5mmol／L,凝血酶原活动度〈40％。结论除血清白蛋白符合Child—Pugh改良分级法外,凝血酶原时间及血清胆红素水平对分级意义不大。而前白蛋白、总胆汁酸、胆固醇及凝血酶原活动度对肝功能的分级及判断预后更具客观意义。     

Perianal abscess and fistula in children in Zaria

Perianal abscess (PAA) and fistula-in-ano (FIA) are not uncommon in children, but reports from tropical Africa are uncommon. In a period of 17 years, 17 children aged 12 years and below were treated for these conditions in Zaria, Nigeria. There were 14 boys and 3 girls, aged 4 months-12 years (median 3 years), Eight had PAA (median age 3 years), 5 ischiorectal abscess (median age 5 years) and 4 FIA (median age 10 months). FIA followed pull through for anorectal malformation in 2 patients and in one it was preceded by PAA. PAA was associated with chronic fissure-in-ano in one patient and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus in one. One 16-month girl with an ischiorectal abscess developed severe perineal necrotising fascitis and separation and retraction of the anorectum. Escherichia coli was cultured in 2 patients with abscesses and staphylococcus aureus in another 2. Culture was sterile in 7 patients with abscesses. Treatment was by adequate incision and drainage for abscesses. Fistulectomy was the treatment for FIA, but in one patient a diversion colostomy was performed in addition as the fistula was a high one. The child who developed necrotising fascitis had debridement and diversion colostomy. FIA recurred in one patient necessitating repeat fistulectomy. Although the number of patients is small, perianal sepsis appears to be less common in our environment compared to developed countries. Some differences are highlighted.     

Percutaneous aspiration versus catheter drainage of liver abscess: A retrospective review

Background

A review of the effectiveness and outcomes in liver abscess drainage performed by different operators using percutaneous aspiration (PA) and catheter drainage (PCD), respectively, from 2008–2013 at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Australia.

Methods

Forty-two patients (29 males and 13 females; aged between 28–93 years; median age of 67 years) with liver abscesses underwent either ultrasound or CT-guided PA (n=22) and PCD (n=20) in conjunction with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. A median of 18 Gauge needle and 10 French catheters were utilised.

Results

Nineteen (86.4 per cent) PA cases and 12 (60 per cent) PCD cases were successfully drained on a single attempt (p=0.08). More male patients (69 per cent) than females (31 per cent) were observed. Portal sepsis (42.9 per cent) was the most common cause identified. Fever (47.6 per cent) was the most frequent clinical presentation on admission. Thirty-two patients (76.2 per cent) had solitary abscesses with a right lobe (59.5 per cent) predilection. CRP was significantly raised. The PCD group observed a significantly larger abscess size (p=0.01). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common organism isolated in both pus (33.3 per cent) and blood cultures (11.9 per cent). Five procedure-related complications were noted, all in the PCD group. Thirty-day mortality was 2.4 per cent. No difference was observed in clinical and treatment outcomes in both groups.

Conclusion

The null hypothesis that both PA and PCD are equally effective in the drainage of liver abscess cannot be rejected. Apart from PA being simpler and safer to perform, the higher incidence of indwelling catheter-associated complications suggests that a trial of PA should always be attempted first.     

Rare complications of pyogenic liver abscess

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is still associated with significant morbidity and mortality. With advances in imaging, most cases are now diagnosed early and effectively treated. However, complications, although considered rare, may still occur. We report three cases of PLA that were associated with rare and significant complications. Two patients had an abscess rupture that resulted in pyopericardium in one patient and sub-diaphragmatic abscess in the other. Another patient with Klebsiella pneumoniae PLA had bilateral endophthalmitis that resulted in blindness. Death secondary to overwhelming sepsis occurred in the patient with Escherichia coli-related pyopericardium. Delay in diagnosis contributed to the complications in two of the patients.     

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy: a report of two cases

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is an uncommon, potentially fatal disorder. Between 1998 and 2000, two patients with acute fatty liver of pregnancy presented at the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore. Both patients were in the thirty-sixth week of pregnancy. jaundice and encephalopathy were the predominant symptoms. Both the mothers died after they delivered a stillborn Infant each. The maternal deaths were due to multiorgan failure and/or postpartum haemorrhage and sepsis. The route of delivery was vaginal in both the patients. Extrahepatic and metabolic complications in both cases Included renal failure, sepsis, hypoglycaemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation and gastrointestinal bleeding. Liver biopsy done in both patients was consistent with the diagnosis of acute fatty liver of pregnancy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report from India on acute fatty liver of pregnancy.     

Community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscesses - an "emerging disease" in Australia

Liver abscess due to Klebsiella pneumoniae infection has been widely reported in Asia, but rarely reported in Australia until now. We describe four previously well Asian-born patients who presented across Australia with community-acquired K. pneumoniae liver abscesses. With prompt recognition, appropriate antibiotics and early drainage, outcome is significantly improved, although vigilance for metastatic complications is essential.     

血浆置换治疗慢性肝衰竭的临床疗效观察

的观察血浆置换治疗慢性肝衰竭的临床疗效,探讨其临床价值、安全性及有效性。方法41例慢性肝衰竭患者在内科综合治疗的基础上联合人工肝治疗,采用血浆置换法,通过比较治疗前后患者的临床症状、肝肾功能、凝血酶原时间、国际标准化比率（INR）等指标判断临床疗效,同时观察治疗中出现的不良反应和生存率。结果人工肝血浆置换治疗可明显改善患者的临床症状,使得患者的血清总胆红素（TBIL）、血清肌酐（Cr）、凝血酶原时间（PT）、国际标准化比率（INR）均有不同程度的降低,清蛋白水平升高,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。治疗过程中出现的不良反应,经对症处理后很快好转,未出现严重不良反应。经血浆置换治疗后总生存率为63．4％,早期及中晚期慢性肝衰竭的患者生存率分别为88．9％及43．9％（P〈0．05）,相比存在统计学差异。结论血浆置换是治疗慢性肝衰竭的一项有效治疗手段,对早期慢性肝衰竭患者疗效优于中晚期患者,安全性好。     

住院死亡患者发生医院获得性急性肾损伤的影响因素

目的　探讨住院期间死亡患者发生医院获得性急性肾损伤（AKI）的影响因素。方法　选取2016年1月—2018年1月在首都医科大学附属北京友谊医院内科系统住院期间发生死亡、年龄≥85岁的老年患者（≥85岁组,n=193）、年龄18~64岁的患者（18~64岁组,n=91）为研究对象。根据患者病历和住院记录,收集患者一般情况、合并症、实验室指标等;采用Logistic 回归分析探讨年龄≥85岁和18~64岁住院期间死亡患者发生AKI的影响因素。结果　≥85岁组患者AKI发生率为58.5%（113/193）,18~64岁组患者AKI发生率为54.9%（50/91）。≥85岁组AKI和非AKI患者合并冠心病、慢性肾脏病（CKD）、贫血、心力衰竭、脓毒血症的患者比例以及血红蛋白水平、血肌酐（Scr）、血尿素氮（BUN）、估算肾小球滤过率（eGFR）比较,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。18~64岁组AKI和非AKI患者合并高脂血症、贫血、心力衰竭的患者比例以及血红蛋白水平、血清清蛋白水平比较,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,是否合并心力衰竭、脓毒血症及基础BUN水平是≥85岁组住院期间死亡患者发生AKI的影响因素（P<0.05）;是否合并贫血和心力衰竭是18~64岁组住院期间死亡患者发生AKI的影响因素（P<0.05）。结论　合并心力衰竭、脓毒血症及基础BUN水平高是≥85岁组住院期间死亡患者发生AKI的独立危险因素;而合并贫血和心力衰竭是18~64岁组住院期间死亡患者发生AKI的独立危险因素。早期评估并积极干预危险因素有助于改善患者的预后,降低死亡风险。     

Effects of long-term elemental nasogastric feeding on elderly debilitated patients

The effects of a liquid elemental diet on nine patients requiring nasogastric tube feeding because of severe dysphagia were studied. A casein based feeding served as a control. The elemental diet was given over a 12-week period except in the case of one man who expired after nine weeks from causes unrelated to the diet.

The feeding was well tolerated by the digestive tract. Satisfactory nutrition appeared to be maintained as indicated by weight gain, stable hemoglobin, serum total protein and albumin values, and normal healing of pressure sores. BUN levels decreased significantly. Uric acid levels increased but remained within normal limits. Pancreatic function was unaffected clinically and from the postmortem findings of the man who died, pancreatic morphology was normal. Fasting blood sugars, serum electrolytes, hematocrit, bleeding, clotting and prothrombin times, and platelet counts were normal.

     

Amoebiasis: a 10 year retrospective study at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur

A hospital based retrospective study of amoebiasis was carried out for a ten-year period at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Of the 51 cases traced, 30 (59%) had amoebic dysentery, 20 (39%) were amoebic liver abscess (ALA) and one patient had both conditions. Entameoba histolytica trophozoites were identified in 13 (43%) of the amoebic dysenteric stools and 9 (30%) from biopsy. Of the 20 (39%) ALA cases, only one showed parasites in the stool and biopsy. Majority of the patients with dysentery were Malays while Chinese comprised 40% with ALA. Males predominated overall with a male female ratio of 3:1, while for ALA it was 9:1. Most of ALA were single (71.4%) and were localised in the right lobe. The majority of the patients were unemployed. Eighty three percent (83%) of the patients presented with diarrhoea or dysentery followed by abdominal pain while those with ALA had fever, chills, rigors and pain in the right hypochondrium. Eighty percent of the ALA cases showed hepatomegaly. All patients responded to treatment with metronidazole.     

Radiological changes in left lobe amoebic liver abscesses

Elevation of the left dome of the diaphragm occurred in 43% of cases with left lobe amoebic liver abscesses. It was rarely seen in patients with an abscess in the right hepatic lobe. Elevation of the right dome of the diaphragm, which occurred in 36% of cases, is also compatible with a diagnosis of left lobe abscess. This radiological sign was present in 75% of cases with right lobe abscesses. Pleuro-pulmonary changes in the left chest, when associated with an elevation of the left dome of the diaphragm, favours the diagnosis of an amoebic abscess of the left lobe of the liver. Radiological changes in barium studies are usually confined to patients with large hepatic abscesses. In clinical practice the information obtained from simple radiology can provide adequate diagnostic confirmation of the presence of a left lobe liver abscess.