Pyogenic liver abscess after hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery

From 1984 to 1998, a total of 2158 patients underwent hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, and 12 patients developed liver abscess after hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery; thus, the incidence of liver abscess was 0.6%. The main reasons for liver abscess were anastomotic stricture in 5 patients, obstruction of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) tube in 3 patients, and portal vein and hepatic artery obstruction due to intraoperative radiation in 1 patient, transportal chemotherapy in 1 patient, chemo-lipiodolization in 1 patient, and unknown in 1 patient. Ten of the 12 patients initially underwent percutaneous transhepatic abscess drainage of whom 2 patients subsequently received surgical drainage. The other 2 patients were treated with antibiotics only. Eight of the 12 patients were cured, but 4 patients died. The reasons for death were sepsis in 3 patients and liver failure due to portal vein and hepatic artery obstruction in 1 patient. Our results indicate that liver abscess should be taken into consideration for patients with risk factors.