Pyogenic liver abscess after gunshot injury: 10 years' experience at a single level 1 trauma center

Liver abscesses are approximately 50 % of all visceral abscesses, and trauma presents as a rare cause of the liver abscess. Otherwise, hepatic abscess is an uncommon complication of gunshot wound (GSW) to the liver among all trauma cases. Here we reviewed their experience in detail.

From January 1, 2004 to September 30, 2013, there were 2143 patients admitted to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami with severe abdominal trauma: 1227 penetrating and 866 blunt. Among the patients who had penetrating trauma, 637 had GSWs and 551 had stab wounds. Thirty-nine patients had other kinds of penetrating traumas. Eleven patients were identified as having liver abscess, with 8 of them belonging to the GSW group, and 3 to the blunt injury group. The diagnosis and management of the 8 patients with a hepatic abscess after GSW to the liver were demonstrated.

There were seven males and one female with a mean age of 29 ± 10 years. There were one grade 2, four grade 3, two grade 4 and one grade 5 injuries. The mean abscess size was 10 ± 2 cm. The abscesses were usually caused by infection from mixed organisms. These abscesses were treated with antibiotics and drainage. No mortality and long-term morbidity were seen.

Hepatic abscess after GSW to the liver is a rare condition, with an incidence of 1.2 %. It is usually seen in severe liver injury (grade 3 and above), but our patients were all treated successfully, with no mortality.