[Hepatic abscess]

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Interventional Radiology

Context:

• Liver abscesses are serious infections requiring timely diagnosis and effective treatment.
• This review covers a 15-year period, analyzing diverse causes including pyogenic, amebic, and tuberculous liver abscesses.
• Common presenting symptoms included fever of unknown origin, abdominal pain, and hepatomegaly.

Purpose:

• To analyze the clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and outcomes of liver abscess patients.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different drainage techniques for liver abscesses.
• To establish optimal management strategies for liver abscesses based on clinical experience.

Summary:

• The study reviewed 9 liver abscess cases: 5 pyogenic, 3 amebic, and 1 tuberculous.
• Treatments included percutaneous transhepatic drainage (6 cases), open surgical drainage (2 cases), and explorative laparotomy (1 case).
• Percutaneous transhepatic drainage was the preferred and most successful intervention, with no associated mortality.

Impact:

• Recommends percutaneous transhepatic drainage as the first-choice treatment for liver abscesses.
• Highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and appropriate intervention to achieve favorable outcomes.
• Contributes to the understanding of liver abscess management, emphasizing minimally invasive techniques.