Hepatectomy for pyogenic liver abscess

BackgroundCommensurate with the advances in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology in the past two decades, percutaneous needle aspiration and catheter drainage have replaced open operation as the first choice of treatment for both single and multiple pyogenic liver abscesses. There has been little written on the place of surgical resection in the treatment of pyogenic liver abscess due to underlying hepatobiliary pathology or after failure of non-operative management.MethodsThe medical records of patients who underwent resection for pyogenic liver abscess over a 15-year period were retrospectively reviewed. The demographics, time from onset of symptoms to medical treatment and operation, site of abscess, organisms cultured, aetiology, reason for operation, type of resection and outcome were analysed. There were 49 patients in whom the abscesses were either single (19), single but multiloculated (11) or multiple (19). The median time from onset of symptoms to medical treatment was 21 days and from treatment to operation was 12 days. The indications for operation were underlying hepatobiliary pathology in 20% and failed non-operative treatment in 76%. Two patients presented with peritonitis from a ruptured abscess.ResultsThe resections performed were anatomic (44) and non-anatomic (5). No patient suffered a recurrent abscess or required surgical or radiological intervention for any abdominal collection. Antibiotics were ceased within 5 days of operation in all but one patient. The median postoperative stay was 10 days. There were two deaths (4%), both following rupture of the abscess.DiscussionExcept for an initial presentation with intraperitoneal rupture and, possibly, cases of hepatobiliary pathology causing multiple abscesses above an obstructed duct system that cannot be negotiated non-operatively, primary surgical treatment of pyogenic liver abscess is not indicated. Non-operative management with antibiotics and percutaneous aspiration/drainage will be successful in most patients. If non-operative treatment fails, different physical characteristics of the abscesses are likely to be present and partial hepatectomy of the involved portion of liver is good treatment when performed by an experienced surgeon.     

Fatal amoebic liver abscess: An autopsy study

An autopsy study of 20 cases is presented. The mean age was 32 years (range: 14-45). Four cases (20%) presented with jaundice. Another four (20%) had continuous fever with abdominal pain. Six had loose motions with blood and mucus in the stools. The mean duration of illness was 7.2 days. All cases were thin and emaciated. Liver was grossly enlarged (mean weight: 2680 g). The abscess was single in all cases except one. The right lobe was involved in 15 cases, the left in four and both in one. The average size of abscess was 13 cm. The abscess had ruptured in the abdomen in 3 patients, for which laparotomy was performed. Pulmonary involvement was seen in 3 cases. Colon showed ulceration in half the patients. In 2 cases perforation was also present. No cerebral involvement was present. A number of interesting features emerged from this study. Although amoebic liver abscess is a common disease, its diagnosis can be missed due to unusual presentation. In the present study, diagnosis of viral hepatitis, carcinoma lung, bacillary dysentery and enteric fever with perforation were made, which probably contributed materially to fatal outcome.     

A case report of a lung abscess as a rare complication of a pyogenic liver abscess

Rationale:A hepatobronchial fistula and lung abscess following a pyogenic liver abscess is a rare entity and it is not easy to diagnose this condition based on the symptoms and chest radiography.Patient concerns:An 81-year-old man presented with productive cough and dyspnea.Diagnosis:Chest radiography indicated increased opacities in the right lower lung field with an air-fluid level suggestive of pneumonia complicated by a lung abscess. Chest and abdominal computed tomography revealed an abscess in the right lower lung field that bordered an abscess at segment 7 of the liver. Tubography confirmed a fistula between the liver and lung abscesses.Interventions:Due to communication between 2 abscesses, transhepatic approach was done instead of transpleural approach to avoid complications.Outcomes:A liver abscess complicated by a lung abscess was resolved following percutaneous transhepatic drainage of the liver abscess and antibiotic administration.Lessons:Though uncommon, the lack of suspicion of sub-diaphragmatic liver abscess often lead to a delay in diagnosis and proper treatment. Our case implies the importance of computed tomography in early diagnosis of liver abscess in case of lung abscess in the right lower lung field.     

85例老年细菌性肝脓肿的临床特点分析

目的 总结85例老年细菌性肝脓肿的临床特点,为临床治疗提供依据. 方法 回顾我院1989年1月至2009年12月收治的206例细菌性肝脓肿的临床资料,根据患者年龄将其分为老年组(≥60岁)与非老年组(＜60岁),比较2组间临床表现、实验室与影像学检查以及治疗和预后的特点. 结果 与非老年组相比,老年组患者常伴有内科基础疾病,且血清肌酐水平[( 115.1±44.2) mmol/L比(88.5±37.3) mmol/L,P＜0.01]、APACHEⅡ评分[(8.7±4.1)分比(6.2±4.0)分,P＜0.05]显著升高,且多发、双叶肝脓肿较非老年组多见(32.9％比20.7％,18.8％比8.3％,P均＜0.05).经积极治疗后,老年组患者住院时间、并发症发生率、病死率与非老年组无显著差别(P均＞0.05). 结论 老年肝脓肿患者临床表现、实验宣与影像学检查有其自身特点,经积极治疗可获得与非老年患者相同的预后.     

Patients with culture negative pyogenic liver abscess have the same outcomes compared to those withKlebsiella pneumoniae pyogenic liver abscess

BACKGROUND: Etiologic organism is not frequently isolated despite multiple blood and lfuid cultures during management of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). Such culture negative pyogen-ic liver abscess (CNPLA) is routinely managed by antibiotics targeted toKlebsiella pneumoniae. In this study, we evaluated the outcomes of such clinical practice.
METHODS: All the patients with CNPLA andKlebsiella pneu-moniaePLA (KPPLA) admitted from January 2003 to Decem-ber 2011 were included in the study. A retrospective review of medical records was performed and demographic, clinical and outcome data were collected.
RESULTS: A total of 528 patients were treated as CNPLA or KPPLA over the study period. CNPLA presented more com-monly with abdominal pain (P=0.024). KPPLA was more com-mon in older age (P=0.029) and was associated with thrombo-cytopenia (P=0.001), elevated creatinine (P=0.002), bilirubin (P=0.001), alanine aminotransferase (P=0.006) and C-reactive protein level (P=0.036). CNPLA patients tend to have anemia (P=0.015) and smaller abscess (P=0.008). There was no differ-ence in hospital stay (15.7 vs 16.8 days) or mortality (14.0% vs 11.0%). No patients required surgical drainage after initiation of medical therapy.
CONCLUSION: Despite demographic and clinical differences between CNPLA and KPPLA, overall outcomes are not different.     

Percutaneous catheter drainage in drug-resistant amoebic liver abscess

This communication records our experience with the percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) of 22 amoebic liver abscesses in 19 patients who had failed to respond to amoebicidal therapy. In one patient with a left lobe abscess, imminent rupture was an additional indication for drainage. PCD combined with amoebicidal therapy not only expedited recovery, but was curative in all 19 patients. There were no complications. We conclude that PCD is a most useful adjunct to drug therapy and recommend its routine use in the management of drug-resistant amoebic liver abscesses.     

Ultrasound patterns and frequency of focal liver lesions after successful treatment of amoebic liver abscess

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency and morphology of residual liver lesions in patients successfully treated for amoebic liver abscess. METHODS: Retrospective ultrasound-based study of 240 adult males from an amoebiasis-endemic area in Vietnam with a documented clinical history of amoebic liver abscess. Subjects were re-examined by hepatic ultrasound 1-13 years after abscess treatment. RESULTS: In 17 subjects (7.1%) focal hypo- or isoechoic areas were identified within the liver with a diameter of 8-48 mm surrounded by a hyperechoic wall. These lesions were associated with positive amoeba serology, were located at the site of the previous abscess and their sonographic appearances corresponded to post-amoebic liver abscess residues. Residues were found in all groups of patients irrespectively of the time-span since the abscess was treated. However, lesions older than 7 years showed some degree of calcification. Otherwise, lesions were apparently inactive, as patients had no clinical symptoms or signs of inflammation and follow-up after one year revealed no changes in size or pattern. CONCLUSION: The vast majority of amoebic liver abscesses resolve to a sonographically normal parenchymal pattern. However, in a small proportion of cases characteristic residues remain. These residues do not require further treatment or diagnostic intervention and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of space-occupying liver lesions, in particular in patients from amoebiasis-endemic areas.     

Expression of cytokines and their regulation during amoebic liver abscess development

Amoebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most important extraintestinal complication of Entamoeba histolytica infection. Amoebic liver abscess development causes severe destruction of the liver tissue concomitant with a strong inflammatory reaction. We analyse the in situ expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, 1L-8 and IL-10 at different stages of ALA development in a susceptible animal model. Results showed that after inoculation, neutrophils (PMN) and some macrophages infiltrated the liver and were positive for TNF-α and IFN-γ at the acute phase of amoeba infection. The presence of these cytokines was transient and decreased as tissue damage progressed. In contrast, IL-1β and IL-8 were detected mainly in neutrophils and macrophages from the periods of acute infection to subacute and chronic infection and decreased when granulomas were formed. The IL-10 was expressed in PMN and mononuclear cells and only during a short period at the onset of acute infection. The qRT-PCR of mRNA revealed a relationship with the expression of the cytokines in cells found in the ALA. Furthermore, our data suggest that IL-10 does not regulate local production of these cytokines. Our results indicate that an exacerbated inflammatory milieu is established and contributes to liver tissue damage and probably supports the survival of the parasites.     

Cryptogenic pyogenic liver abscess as the herald of colon cancer

Background and Aim: Colonic mucosal defects might be a route for bacterial invasion into the portal system, with subsequent hematogenous spread to the liver. We retrospectively investigated the results of colonoscopy and the clinical characteristics of patients with pyogenic liver abscess of colonic origin. Methods: A total of 230 consecutive patients with pyogenic liver abscess were reviewed between 2003 and 2010. The 230 patients were categorized into three groups (pancreatobiliary [n = 135], cryptogenic [n = 81], and others [n = 14]). Of the 81 cryptogenic patients, 37 (45.7%) underwent colonoscopy. Colonic lesions with mucosal defects were considered colonic causes of abscess. Results: In the 37 colonoscopic investigations, colon cancer was found in six patients (16.2%), laterally‐spreading tumor (LST) in two patients (5.4%), multiple colon ulcers in one patient (2.7%), colon polyps in 17 patients (45.9%), and diverticula in four patients (10.8%). Nine (11%) of 81 cryptogenic abscesses were therefore reclassified as being of colonic origin (colon cancer = 6, LST = 2, ulcer = 1). Three cases were stage III colon cancer, and the others were stage I. Two LST were high‐grade dysplasia. The percentage of patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) and diabetes mellitus (DM) of colonic origin was 66.7%, which was significantly higher than the 8.6% for other causes (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Of the 37 patients with cryptogenic pyogenic liver abscess who underwent colonoscopy, nine (24.3%) were diagnosed with a colonic cause. Colonoscopy should be considered for the detection of hidden colonic malignant lesions in patients with cryptogenic pyogenic liver abscess, especially for patients with K. pneumoniae and DM.     

Laparoscopic hepatectomy for the treatment of pyogenic liver abscess: A retrospective case-control study

Percutaneous catheter drainage is the first-line treatment for pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). Some patients need hepatectomy because of underling hepatobiliary pathology or unresponsiveness to nonoperative treatment, the traditional method is open hepatectomy (OH). Laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) for PLA is rarely reported. The purpose of this study is to describe our experience of LH for treating PLA and to compare LH with OH. The medical records of patients who underwent LH for treating PLA were retrospectively analyzed, and the results were compared with those of patients with OH. From January 2015 to December 2021, 61 patients with PLA underwent hepatectomy, and 28 patients who underwent LH (LH group) were compared with 33 patients who underwent OH (OH group). There were no significant differences in the basic data between the 2 groups. Two patients in the LH group were converted to open surgery due to hemorrhage and dense perihepatic adhesions, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the operation time (186.2 ± 85.6 vs. 175.9 ± 76.7 minutes, P = .239), Institut Mutualiste Montsouris classification, extent of hepatectomy and drainage tube removal time, however, the blood loss (200.0 ± 100.5 vs. 470.9 ± 120.1 mL, P = .003), numerical rating scale (5.2 ± 1.8 vs. 9.1 ± 1.6, P = .042), the time to resume oral diet (12.3 ± 6.5 vs. 24.6 ± 10.2 hours, P = .005), the ambulant time (20.2 ± 7.3 vs. 40.2 ± 10.8 hours, P = .010), incidence of postoperative complications (14.3% vs.33.3%, P = .002), comprehensive complication index (46.2 vs. 60.6, P = .013), postoperative hospital stay (8.5 ± 7.3 vs. 13.5 ± 10.2 days, P = .025) in the LH group was significantly less than that in the OH group. Wit experience laparoscopic surgeons, treating PLA by LH is safe and feasible and compares favorably with OH.     

老年性细菌性肝脓肿的多层螺旋CT诊断及治疗

目的总结老年性细菌性肝脓肿的多层螺旋CT(MSCT)影像学特征及其治疗方法。方法回顾性分析2001年3月至2014年2月在灌南县中医院确诊为老年性细菌性肝脓肿的42例患者的临床资料,总结MSCT影像学特征及临床治疗特点。组间比较采用t检验。结果 42例患者中,37例病灶位于肝右叶,5例位于肝左叶;33例为单发病灶,9例病灶表现为多房或蜂窝状征象。MSCT平扫结果示,病灶均表现为较正常肝组织低的低密度灶,CT值约6~40 Hu;动脉期:39例病灶边缘环状强化,3例病灶边缘无强化。内科保守治疗15例,穿刺引流27例。15例行内科保守治疗的患者脓腔直径(3.7±2.1)cm,发热时间为(11.7±4.1)d,平均住院(22.6±5.3)d;27例行穿刺引流治疗的患者脓腔直径(6.3±2.8)cm,发热时间为(7.1±2.2)d,平均住院(13.7±3.1)d,两组比较差异均有统计学意义(P值分别为0.021、0.026、0.006)。结论 MSCT检查能够准确显示脓肿位置、形态,结合患者病史可做出正确的诊断。B超或CT引导下穿刺引流治疗是一种有效、微创、安全的治疗方法,可有效控制发热,加快老年患者恢复。     

Increased frequency of HLA-DR3 and complotype SC01 in Mexican mestizo patients with amoebic abscess of the liver

Our preliminary study (31 patients) of HLA frequencies and amoebic abscess of the liver (AAL) in Mexican mestizos was extended to include 110 patients with this condition. The previously found increase in HLA-B16 was not confirmed, but the frequency of HLA-DR3 was again found significantly increased in patients with AAL when compared to the normal, ethnically matched control population, both in its isolated (35.5% vs 12.7%) and in the HLA-A2, DR3 haplotypic version (20.9% vs 4.5%). Moreover, seven of the 17 HLA specificities that were found to be individually different at P (yet not at PC) level in patients with AAL when compared to the control population, were actually HLA-DR3 containing haplotypes. HLA-DR3 may thus encode a risk factor(s) for AAL, at least in the Mexican mestizo population. Furthermore a significant increase in the complotype SC01 and its haplotypic version SC01, DR4 were identified in 45 non selected patients with AAL when compared to normal controls (31.1% vs 6.7% and 17.8% vs 0% respectively). Even though a relationship between allelic forms of complement components and their function has not been fully established, this complotype could represent a risk factor as well, since complement appears to play a role in host defence against amoebic invasion. Finally, no extended haplotype preference was found in these AAL patients.     

CASE REPORT: A patient who developed an amoebic liver abscess during treatment with interferon

A 65-year-old female received recombinant interferon (IFN) α-2b daily for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Fever (39°C or higher) developed 14 days after the start of administration. Abdominal computed tomography suggested multiple liver abscesses, which had not been detected before IFN administration. An autopsy revealed an amoebic liver abscess. A subclinical infection of Entamoeba histolytica in this case developed into amoebic liver abscess during IFN administration.     

Treatment of amoebic liver abscess with metronidazole alone or in combination with ultrasound-guided needle aspiration: a comparative, prospective and randomized study

Thirty-nine patients with amoebic liver abscess (ALA), admitted to the Central Hospital of Hué (Vietnam), were evaluated in a comparative, prospective and randomized study for the treatment of ALA. Adult patients with an abscess located in the right liver lobe and an abscess diameter of 6 to 10 cm were included. Bacterial abscesses were excluded by microbiological examination of abscess fluid in all patients. Nineteen patients were treated with metronidazole for 10 days alone and 20 patients were punctured under ultrasound guidance with aspiration of abscess fluid in addition to drug administration. The clinical symptoms fever, pain in right upper abdomen and liver tenderness, and the laboratory parameters erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cells, haemoglobin and C-reactive protein and the abscess size were determined on the day of admission and followed during an observation period of 38 days. Improvement of liver tenderness was significantly faster in the aspiration group during the first 3 days (P < 0.001), whereas all the other parameters showed no differences between the two groups. This minor benefit is obviously not sufficient to justify routine needle aspiration and advocates drug treatment alone for uncomplicated amoebic liver abscesses with a diameter up to 10 cm located in the right liver lobe.     

Cryptogenic pyogenic liver abscess as a sign of colorectal cancer: a population‐based 5‐year follow‐up study

Background/aims: No large‐scale population‐based study has ever been conducted to examine the relationship between cryptogenic pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA) and the subsequent risk of colorectal cancer. This study aimed to estimate the risk for colorectal cancer following a diagnosis of cryptogenic PLA over a 5‐year period. Methods: The study group comprised 274 patients who visited an outpatient care centre or were hospitalized with a diagnosis of cryptogenic PLA between 2001 and 2003. The comparison group included 1370 randomly selected subjects. Cox proportional hazard regressions were performed to compare the 5‐year colorectal cancer‐free survival rates for these two groups. Results: Of the total sample, 40 patients from the study group (2.43%) had colorectal cancer during the 5‐year follow‐up period: 15 (5.45% of those with cryptogenic PLA) and 25 from the comparison group (1.82% of the comparison group). After adjusting for patients' age, sex, monthly income, level of urbanization and geographical location, the hazard of colorectal cancer during the 5‐year period was 3.36 times greater for patients with cryptogenic PLA than for the comparison group [95% confidence interval (CI)=1.72–6.56, P<0.001]. The adjusted hazard of colorectal cancer during the 5‐year follow‐up period was 5.54 times higher for cryptogetic PLA patients with diabetes (95% CI=2.11–14.56, P<0.001) than the comparison group and 2.64 times higher among PLA patients without diabetes (95% CI=1.19–5.85, P<0.05). Conclusions: We conclude that cryptogenic PLA is an alarm that may signal colorectal cancer, especially among female patients with diabetes.     

75例细菌性肝脓肿临床和病原学特点分析

目的回顾性分析细菌性肝脓肿的临床和病原学特点、易发因素及治疗效果,为肝脓肿的临床诊治提供依据。方法选择2010年1月—2013年12月北京地区2所传染病医院确诊的细菌性肝脓肿患者75例,系统性分析其临床资料和病原学特点,探讨肝脓肿发生的危险因素和治疗效果。结果 75例肝脓肿患者中,男55例,女20例,年龄(51.9±16.0)岁。主要临床表现为发热(52.00%)和腹痛(30.67%)。有肝病基础疾病的72例(96.00%),包括肝炎肝硬化45例(62.50%),肝癌23例(31.94%),酒精性肝病3例(4.17%),脂肪肝1例(1.39%)。其中42例(56.00%)伴随其他疾病,包括腹膜炎24例(57.14%),AIDS 13例(30.95%),糖尿病11例(26.19%),高血压10例(23.81%)。脓液和血培养阳性率分别为46.51%(20/43)和24.39%(10/41),肺炎克雷伯菌是主要致病菌(53.33%)。45例经B超或CT引导下穿刺引流并联合抗生素治疗,有效率为88.89%。结论细菌性肝脓肿好发于老年肝病患者,男性居多,临床表现非特异性,病原菌以肺炎克雷伯菌最为常见,经B超或CT引导下穿刺引流并联合抗生素治疗可以取得良好效果。     

Ultrasonographic features of amoebic abscess: Study in 59 patients

Sonographic examination was carried out in 59 patients with a clinical diagnosis of amoebic liver abscess during the previous 4 years (January 1982 to December 1985). The amoebic liver abscess was located in the right lobe in 45 patients, in the left lobe in eight patients, and in both lobes in six patients. The ultrasonic diagnosis was confirmed in the majority of patients by the indirect haemaglutination test (titres 1:512 or greater) coupled with excellent response to metronidazole, or by ultrasonic-guided percutaneous aspiration producing anchovy sauce pus.
The sonographic patterns of the abscess were evaluated. All patients had well-defined hypoechoic lesions near the surface, which demonstrated fine homogeneous low-level echoes throughout at a normal and a high-gain setting, without a peripheral echo-free halo. The configuration of the abscess was round, oval or lobulated. The walls were irregular in 53 patients, and showed a slight distal sonic enhancement. This ultrasonic feature is suggestive of amoebic liver abscess. The specific ultrasonographic features of amoebic liver abscess, combined with a feature of pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, or an abdominal abscess, were suggestive of the complications of liver abscess found in 19 patients.
It is concluded that ultrasonography is a valuable aid in the diagnosis of amoebic liver abscess. It is of value not only for detection, but also for determination of the site, depth, size, and location of the complicating rupture of the abscess.     

Endoscopic transpapillary abscess drainage for a patient with giant pyogenic liver abscess

The primary modalities for management of liver abscesses are usually antibiotics and percutaneous drainage. However, in patients with ascites or bleeding tendency, the percutaneous puncture of liver abscesses may be unsuitable. We applied a new approach, nasobiliary tube drainage, for a giant pyogenic liver abscess following diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Pyogenic liver abscess is often biliary in origin, and this new approach includes assessment of biliary abnormality for the management of the abscess, enabling treatment of parients in whom puncture of the abscess is considered dangerous because of massive ascites around the liver. We propose that this procedure is useful in the management of a subgroup of patients with pyogenic liver abscess. To our knowledge, no previous reports of endoscopic transpapillary abscess drainage in pyogenic liver abscess are available.     

Gonadectomy inhibits development of experimental amoebic liver abscess in hamsters through downregulation of the inflammatory immune response

Incidence of amoebic liver abscess (ALA) in human males is considerably higher than in females, suggesting a role for sex hormones in this parasite infection. We describe here the effect of hamster gonadectomization on the development of ALA. After monitoring the decrease of oestradiol in females and testosterone in males to undetectable levels by ELISA and Radio Immuno Assay (RIA) in serum, hamsters were intraportally infected with Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites and killed 7 days later. ALA was absent in 50% of male and 15% of female gonadectomized (Gdx) hamsters, in comparison with 100% infection in non-Gdx controls. This protection against ALA in Gdx hamsters was concomitant to a comparatively scarce inflammatory infiltrate and necrosis surrounding clusters of trophozoites in the liver tissue, as well as to a lack of response of spleen cells to Con A, evaluated in proliferation assays. As tissue damage in ALA has been associated with a local inflammatory Th1 response, we determined the profile of response in hamsters by immunohistochemistry on liver sections. In contrast to strong Th1 responses in non-Gdx animals, Gdx females and males exhibited Th2 and Th3 profiles of cytokines, respectively, suggesting that protection against ALA following gonadectomization, could be related to downregulation of liver Th1 response during amoebic infection.     

Actinomycotic liver abscess

Summary A 28-year-old male with hepatic actinomycosis presented with several months of anorexia, weight loss, fever, night sweats, and mild right upper quadrant abdominal tenderness. Despite normal liver function tests, hepatic involvement was demonstrated by imaging studies. A liver biopsy and ultrasound-guided aspirate were, however, unrewarding. Laparotomy was, therefore, necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis. The patient was then successfully treated with intravenous penicillin followed by oral clindamycin. This case is presented to illustrate the diagnostic difficulties that may be encountered in such patients with hepatic actinomycosis.