A comparative evaluation of percutaneous catheter drainage for resistant amebic liver abscesses

Resistance to drug treatment is a well-known problem in the management of patients with amebic liver abscesses. We undertook a comparison of the various modalities of treatment currently used for such cases on a prospective, randomized basis. Fifty patients with 56 amebic liver abscesses found to be resistant to drug therapy were included in the study. Repeat trial of conservative therapy, therapeutic needle aspirations, percutaneous catheter drainage, and open surgical drainage were the modalities of treatment employed. The responses to the various modalities were compared for clinical relief, morbidity, failure of response, period of hospital stay, and resolution of abscess cavity. The most impressive results were seen with percutaneous catheter drainage. This new modality of treatment is recommended for all resistant cases of amebic liver abscess.     

Liver abscess: a clinicopathological analysis of 82 cases

Liver abscesses are a common pathology in India, but a strategy for effective treatment has not been established. Eighty-two patients with liver abscess were studied over a 4-year period. Clinical features, ultrasound findings, laboratory studies, and outcome of therapy were evaluated. Treatment options were antibiotics alone, needle aspiration, catheter drainage, or open surgical drainage; 51.2% of all abscesses were amebic, 23.2% were pyogenic, and 25.6% had unknown causes. A total of 75.6% of the abscesses were solitary, with 62.2% confined to the right lobe. Pyogenic abscesses were more likely to have anemia, leukocytosis, and deranged liver function. Amebic abscesses tended to have a larger volume. Patients undergoing catheter drainage showed a more rapid reduction in initial abscess volume, whereas resolution of the abscess cavity took longer with antibiotic therapy alone. Ultrasound-guided needle aspiration and catheter drainage are safe and effective in the management of liver abscess. Drug therapy alone may be useful only in select cases.     

Percutaneous treatment of retroperitoneal abscesses

The retroperitoneal abscess is an uncommon disease, that must be treated by drainage. The progressive use of the percutaneous drainage, under ultrasound or computed tomography guidance (CT), has changed the therapeutical management and has demonstrated to be a valid alternative to surgical drainage. From 1986 to 1998, 16 patients with retroperitoneal abscesses were treated by percutaneous drainage (14 with CT and 2 with ultrasound guidance). This method eradicated the abscess in 13 cases, in 2 was necessary a new function to cure the abscess, and 1 patient, with a severe sepsis, died. Percutaneous drainage was the unique treatment used in 12 patients. In the remaining four, the patients' clinical status improved after percutaneous drainage, and they were able to undergo subsequent elective nephrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous drainage of retroperitoneal abscesses has been established as a viable alternative to surgical intervention. This method can resolve the abscess or improve the patient' clinical status to undergo elective surgery.     

Liver abscesses

Clinical suspicion of a liver abscess mandates an investigation of the liver for evidence of a liver abscess by radionuclide, ultrasound, or CT scan. Amebic abscesses have a lower mortality rate than pyogenic abscesses. Amebic and pyogenic abscesses can be distinguished on the basis of epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory studies. The definitive studies for identifying amebic liver abscesses are hemagglutinin or gel diffusion studies. Amebic abscess of the liver may be complicated by extension to the lung, with pulmonary complications. Patients suspected to have amebic abscesses require metronidazole. Emetine or chloroquine may be added if there is no response or if the abscess recurs. Unless there is a failure of the amebic abscess to resolve or secondary infection occurs, there is seldom a need to aspirate or drain these abscesses. Pyogenic abscesses should be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics to cover gram-negative aerobes and anaerobic organisms. All pyogenic abscesses larger than 1.5 cm in diameter should be aspirated, and the aspirate should be Gram stained and cultured. Percutaneous or surgical drainage should then be performed. Operative intervention is required in those patients with intra-abdominal pyogenic infections that are seeding the liver abscess. The marked reduction in the mortality rate of pyogenic liver abscess witnessed in this decade is multifaceted and attributable in part to earlier diagnosis, permitting definitive treatment in a timely fashion, as well as to improved intensive unit care, antibiotic management, and operative technique.     

Diagnosis and management of abscesses in the basal ganglia and thalamus: A survey

Summary A review is made of the current management strategies of abscesses in basal ganglia and thalamus, based on a review of the literature and three of our own cases. Clinical picture, aetiology, diagnostic, surgical treatment and outcome are discussed. Stereotactic abscess puncture in combination with temporary drainage and rinsing of the abscess cavity in combination with systemic medication of antibiotics has become the management of choice with satisfactory results.     

The subphrenic abscess. Surgical and/or percutaneous drainage

The results indicate that the low risk percutaneous drainage of subphrenic abscesses is only feasible in carefully selected patients. The surgical intervention remains the method of choice for the drainage of subphrenic abscesses in conditions such as multiple and complicated abscesses, unfavourable access to the abscess cavities or other pathological conditions. An early and decisive diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment of subphrenic abscesses either by percutaneous drainage or surgical intervention and antibiotic therapy.     

Liver abscess due to acute cholecystitis. Report of five cases

Acute cholecystitis is one of the most frequent causes of admissions to surgical departments. The development of liver abscesses is an uncommon and underrated complication of acute cholecystitis. In this study we report on our experience with the treatment of 5 cases of liver abscesses secondary to acute cholecystitis. All 5 cases were characterised by a lengthy period between the onset of acute cholecystitis symptoms and the subsequent diagnosis of a secondary liver abscess. In 4 out of 5 patients, admission for liver abscess occurred 12, 30, 50 and 120 days, respectively, after the acute cholecystitis episode. The liver abscesses were successfully treated with percutaneous drainage under US guidance (4 cases) and 4 patients underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy to treat the acute cholecystitis. After resolution of the acute phase, an elective cholecystectomy was performed in 4 out of 5 cases. Failure to diagnose acute cholecystitis at onset or inappropriate treatment of the condition could lead to the development of liver abscesses.     

多房性细菌性肝脓肿手术和经皮穿刺引流的评价

目的 探讨治疗多房性细菌性肝脓肿的两种首选方案,比较手术和经皮穿刺引流的临床结果.方法 回顾性分析华西医院2003年6月至2008年6月收治的45例患者多房性细菌性肝脓肿的临床资料.根据手术方式分为2组,其中穿刺引流组21例,行B超或CT引导下经皮穿刺置管引流(pereutaneous drainage PD),开腹引流组24例,行经腹切开引流(surgical drainage SD).比较2组患者的退热时间、治疗失败、再次手术、住院天数及死亡率.结果 2组患者退热时间比较差异无统计学意义(4.85 d vs.4.38 d,P＞0.05),但是开腹引流组治疗失败率低(2例vs.9例,P＜0.05);再次手术机会小(1例vs.11例,P＜0.01);而且住院天数更短(8 d vs.11 d,P＜0.05).两组患者均无死亡.结论 根据结果显示,开腹引流在多房性细菌性肝脓肿治疗中能达到比经皮穿刺引流更好的临床结果.可提高成功率、减少再次手术机会和缩短住院天数,应作为首选治疗方案.     

细菌性肝脓肿的放射介入和双介入治疗

目的: 探讨放射介入和双介入治疗细菌性肝脓肿的临床疗效. 方法: 回顾分析51例细菌性肝脓肿病人(其中12例行放射介入或双介入治疗)的临床资料. 结果: 介入组12例病人无1例需中转手术引流,均痊愈出院;对照组39例中,有2例因脓肿导管引流不畅需行手术引流,39例中死亡3例,均死于多脏器功能衰竭,病死率为7.7%(3/39),两组差异无显著性(P>0.05);两组病人的退热时间差异无显著性(P>0.05),但介入组脓肿消退时间显著短于对照组(P<0.01). 结论: 放射介入治疗联合经皮肝脓肿穿刺引流,即双介入治疗细菌性肝脓肿具有良好的疗效.     

An appraisal of surgical and percutaneous drainage for pyogenic liver abscesses larger than 5 cm

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether first-line treatment with percutaneous or surgical drainage of liver abscesses larger than 5 cm results in better clinical outcome. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Pyogenic liver abscesses larger than 5 cm are currently treated by intravenous antibiotics and either percutaneous (PD) or surgical drainage (SD). Percutaneous techniques have been increasingly performed in place of open drainage as first-line treatment. This paradigm shift has been fueled by the drive for low-risk and less-invasive procedures and the surgical option being reserved for percutaneous failures. Yet there is a lack of data to support percutaneous drainage over open surgical drainage as first-line treatment. METHODS: Over a 3-year period, 80 patients with liver abscesses larger than 5 cm amenable to PD and SD were included in the study. This situation was possible as 1 team of surgeons favored the use of PD and 1 team favored the use of SD as first-line treatment. The treatment outcomes in both groups were compared, and clinical end-points included time to defervescence of fever, failure of treatment, secondary procedures, hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality. RESULTS: PD was performed in 36 patients and SD in 44 patients as first-line treatment. Clinical, laboratory, and abscess parameters were comparable in both groups. Sixty-four of 80 patients (80%) had multiloculated abscess. The time to defervescence of fever was not statistically significant (PD versus SD, 4.85 versus 4.38 days; P = 0.09). However, SD had less treatment failures (3 versus 10, P = 0.013), less requirement for secondary procedures (5 versus 13, P = 0.01), and shorter length of hospital stay (8 versus 11 days, P = 0.03). There was no difference in morbidity or mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study show that for large liver abscesses more than 5 cm, SD provides better clinical outcomes than PD in terms of treatment success, number of secondary procedures, and hospital stay with comparable morbidity and mortality rates. SD should be considered as first-line treatment of large liver abscesses.     

Etiology, diagnosis and treatment of hepatic abscesses after biliary tract surgery

The majority of hepatic abscesses of biliary tract origin are the result of suppurative or non suppurative cholangitis, caused either by common duct stones, inflammatory stricture or malignancies. We report our experience of 7 consecutive liver abscesses after biliary tract surgery, treated in our surgical unit over a 2-year period, there were 6 females and 1 male with an age of 41 to 83 years. Hepatic abscess after biliary surgery developed from 10 days to 14 months postoperatively. Two patients underwent primary surgical drainage and remained clinically well 6 months and 2 years postoperatively. Five patients initially had percutaneous drainage and 4 of them subsequently underwent operative drainage; one patient declined any further operative treatment after percutaneous drainage and died 8 days later from continuing sepsis. Multiple factors may account for the development of both cholangitis and hepatic abscess following biliary tract procedures. Radiologic investigation should not only focus on the abscess itself but must also identify underlying biliary pathology. Our experience suggests that a surgical approach may be preferable to percutaneous techniques as it allows appropriate management of the associated biliary pathology.     

Hepatic abscess secondary to foreign body perforation of the stomach

Foreign body penetration of the stomach is seldom encountered in general surgical practice. Liver abscess as a consequence of such occurrence has only been reported sporadically. We report three cases of liver abscesses due to direct penetration injury of the stomach by ingested foreign bodies. All three patients presented with clinical features of liver abscess without history of foreign body ingestion. All recovered with surgical treatment. Successful management relies on prompt recognition and early intervention as deaths have been reported due to missed or delayed diagnosis. The potential role of a minimally invasive approach in the management of this entity is also discussed.     

Results of treatment of pyogenic liver abscesses

In the last 7 years 53 patients with liver abscesses were treated at surgical clinic of Charité. Since November 1982 we treated in 27 cases with solitary and multiloculary liver abscesses by percutaneous drainage of the abscess diameter more than 3 to 4 cm. 12 patients with multiloculary small biliary liver abscesses were treated by antibiotics. The bacteriological examination were performed after CT-supported puncture of the abscess. Seven patients with complicated abscesses could not be healed with CT-drainage. Surgical drainage via laparotomy was necessary. The diagnostic clarification of the dignity is important in every case. The lethality of all treated liver abscesses was 5.6% and the causes of death were the existing basic diseases.     

细菌性肝脓肿外科处理的临床分析

目的总结细菌性肝脓肿的诊治经验。方法对我院从1992年-2002年十年间所收治的105例细菌性肝脓肿病人进行回顾性分析。本组治疗方法包括：单纯抗生素治疗21例,外科手术引流30例,腹腔镜手术引流6例,经皮穿刺抽吸治疗42例,经皮穿刺置管引流治疗6例。结果本组治愈101例,死亡4例,死亡率3．8％。结论早期诊断和恰当的治疗是提高细菌性肝脓肿疗效的重要因素,超声引导下穿刺抽吸和／或置管引流已成为细菌性肝脓肿的治疗首选,适合于大部分病人。而外科手术引流仅适合于介入治疗失败或脓肿破裂病人。     

Pyogenic liver abscess: Changing patterns in approach

AIM: To define optimum management of the pyogenic liver abscess and assess new trends in treatment.METHODS: One hundred and sixty nine patients with pyogenic liver abscess managed at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Kashmir (India) from July 2001 to August 2006 were studied to evaluate and define the optimum treatment.RESULTS: Mortality in the surgically treated group of patients was 9.4% (12/119), while those treated non-surgically had a fatality rate of 16.66% (7/42). Multiple liver abscesses treated surgically had a surprisingly low mortality of 30%. The biliary tract (64.97%) was the most common cause of liver abscess. Multiple abscesses, mixed organisms and abscess complications are all associated with a significantly increased mortality. However, the lethality of the primary disease process was the most important factor in determining survival.CONCLUSION: Transperitoneal surgical drainage and antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment. Percutaneous drainage is recommended for high risk patients only.     

Interventional and surgical treatment of pancreatic abscess

Pancreatic abscess is one of the infectious complications of acute pancreatitis. It is a collection principally containing pus, but it may also contain variable amounts of semisolid necrotic debris. Most of these abscesses evolve from the progressive liquefaction of necrotic pancreatic and peripancreatic tissues, but some arise from infection of peripancreatic fluid or collections elsewhere in the peritoneal cavity. Included also are abscesses found after surgical débridement and drainage of pancreatic necrosis. Although open surgical treatment of infected necrosis is the established treatment of choice, percutaneous drainage of abscesses is successful in some circumstances. We used percutaneous catheter drainage in 39 patients during 1987–1995. Only 9 of 29 (31%) attempts at primary therapy were successful; 2 patients died, and 18 required subsequent surgical drainage. On the other hand, 14 of 14 patients with recurrent or residual abscesses after surgical drainage were successfully drained percutaneously. Percutaneous catheter drainage of pancreatic abscesses may be useful for initial stabilization of septic patients, drainage of further abscesses after surgical intervention (especially when access for reoperation will be difficult), associated abscesses remote from the pancreas, and selected unilocular collections at a sufficient interval after necrotizing pancreatitis to have allowed essentially complete liquefaction.     

Treatment of hepatic and juxta-hepatic abscesses by puncture-drainage]

The aim of this study was to show the result obtained by ultrasound-- or CT--guided puncture, possibly associated with transcutaneous drainage, for the treatment of hepatic and perihepatic abscesses. Preoperative imaging guides this treatment. It may reveal cavities as small as 1.5 cm in diameter. This nonsurgical treatment is based on single or multiple punctures, possibly followed by a long percutaneous drainage. The ideal indication is isolate liver abscesses located near the surface, as well as all juxtahepatic suppurative collections. Our experience is based on 73 patients, 32 of them presenting with an intrahepatic abscesses and 41 with a subphrenic or juxtahepatic abscess. For intrahepatic abscesses, healing was obtained with the surgical treatment in 75.3% of all cases: with a single puncture in 5 cases, two or more punctures in 4, and transcutaneous drainage in 11. Out of the 34 cases of perihepatic abscesses that underwent nonsurgical treatment, surgery was avoided in 25 cases, ie. 73.5% of all. Four of them were treated with a single puncture, 3 with repeated puncture, and 18 with transcutaneous drainage. The success of this procedure depends both on the indication and, most importantly, on the accurate application of the procedure.     

腹腔镜手术治疗肝脓肿的应用体会

目的:探讨腹腔镜肝脓肿置管引流术及腹腔镜肝脓肿切开引流术的适应证、手术方法和临床应用.方法:回顾分析2000年1月至2010年6月为63例肝脓肿患者施行腹腔镜手术的临床资料,其中34例行腹腔镜肝脓肿置管引流术,29例行腹腔镜肝脓肿切开引流术.结果:63例均在腹腔镜下完成,无一例中转开腹.腹腔镜肝脓肿置管引流术手术时间平...     

Percutaneous management of pyogenic hepatic abscesses

Twelve patients (9 men, 3 women) with a mean age of 65 (54-78) years, with pyogenic hepatic abscesses were managed by percutaneous drainage between 1979 and 1987. Biliary origin was most common (4 patients), followed by hepatic abscesses as a late postoperative complication (seen in 3 patients) and hepatic abscesses occurring in association with acute appendicitis (2 patients). The origin was unknown in 3 patients. Diagnosis was reached by computed tomography or ultrasonography with a diagnostic delay of in mean 11 days. Seventeen abscesses were found among the 12 patients. The median abscess size (maximal diameter) was 7 (1-12) cm. Nine patients were treated with percutaneous drainage with an indwelling catheter within the abscess cavity for up to 3 weeks, while 3 patients were managed with percutaneous puncture and aspiration alone. The most commonly isolated organism from the drained hepatic abscess was E. coli. The course following percutaneous treatment was uneventful, without mortality and recurrence of the hepatic abscess during follow-up. One patient required surgical drainage of an additional hepatic abscess. Percutaneous drainage of hepatic abscesses, independent of origin, thus seems as a safe and reliable method, which should be considered as the treatment of choice if facilities and knowledge of percutaneous management are provided.