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A "fishy" cough: hepatobronchial fistula due to a pyogenic liver abscess

Fouad Moawad1, Alex Truesdell, Brian Mulhall

  • 1Department of Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Ave., NW Washington, DC 20307, USA. Fouad.Moawad@na.amedd.army.mil

The New Zealand Medical Journal
|April 4, 2006
PubMed

Insights

A rare hepatobronchial fistula, an abnormal connection between the liver and lungs, caused persistent cough in a patient with recurrent liver abscess. This case highlights a rare but serious complication of hepatic abscesses.

Area of Science:

  • Medicine
  • Gastroenterology
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Hepatobronchial fistulae are rare abnormal connections between the liver and bronchial tree.
  • Common causes include biliary obstruction and infections like liver abscesses, amoebiasis, and hydatid cysts.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with a chronic, recurrent hepatic abscess.
  • The patient experienced a persistent, productive cough.

Findings:

  • The persistent cough was diagnosed as a symptom of a hepatobronchial fistula.
  • This fistula represented a rare complication of the patient's chronic hepatic abscess.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering hepatobronchial fistula in patients with hepatic abscesses and respiratory symptoms.
  • Early diagnosis and management are crucial for improving patient outcomes.
  • Further research into the pathogenesis and treatment of these rare fistulae is warranted.

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