Intermittent hepatic artery antibiotic infusion therapy for pyogenic hepatic abscess

To study the efficacy and problems associated with intermittent hepatic artery antibiotic infusion therapy for pyogenic hepatic abscess.

The material comprised eight patients with pyogenic hepatic abscess in whom percutaneous drainage could not be performed and intravenous administration of antibiotics was ineffective. An injection catheter was introduced into the common hepatic artery. Almost the same dose of antibiotics as with intravenous administration was infused intra-arterially 2-4 times per day.

A therapeutic effect was achieved in six of the eight cases. In these 6 cases, the mean period of intra-arterial infusion was 10.8 days, while the mean period of catheter placement was 14.7 days. Using broad spectrum antibiotics, the therapeutic effect was obtained regardless of the numbers, morphologic characteristics, and differences in location of the abscesses. No significant complications were noted except in one case of splenic infarction.

Intermittent hepatic artery antibiotic infusion therapy is useful as an alternative therapeutic procedure for pyogenic hepatic abscess in which percutaneous drainage cannot be performed and intravenous administration of antibiotics is ineffective.