Pyogenic liver abscess: a review of 10 years' experience in management

Over the past 15 years, diagnostic and interventional radiology techniques have allowed accurate localization of liver abscesses and image-guided percutaneous drainage. This review examines whether these technical advances improve clinical results and discusses the selection of treatment for patients with liver abscesses.

Ninety-eight patients were treated for pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, between January 1987 and June 1997. The hospital records were examined and clinical presentation, laboratory, radiological and microbiological findings were recorded. Associations between these findings and failure of initial non-operative management were determined using odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Independent predictors were then determined by logistic regression. This analysis was repeated to determine factors associated with mortality.

Cholelithiasis and previous hepatobiliary surgery were the most frequently identifiable causes of PLA, each responsible in 15 patients. All 98 patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics and in 13 patients this was the only therapy. Of the remaining 85 patients, six proceeded straight to laparotomy and 79 had percutaneous drainage, of whom 15 required subsequent laparotomy. Factors predicting failure of initial non-operative management were unresolving jaundice, renal impairment secondary to clinical deterioration, multiloculation of the abscess, rupture on presentation and biliary communication. The overall hospital mortality rate was 8%.

Pyogenic liver abscess remains a disease with significant mortality. Image-guided percutaneous drainage is appropriate treatment for single unilocular PLA. Surgical drainage is more likely to be required in patients who have abscess rupture, incomplete percutaneous drainage or who have uncorrected primary pathology.