Transcutaneous drainage of abscesses of the liver guided by computed tomography scan

Six instances of pyogenic abscess of the liver, diagnosed and localized by computed tomography scan, showed dramatic improvement after treatment by needle aspiration and antibiotics or precutaneous continuous aspiration and antibiotics. An intercostal trocar drain, 18F, was used to obtain optimal drainage also of viscous purulent material and debris. After drainage was begun, improvement was rapid and without complication or mortality. We have collected from the literature 59 patients with abscesses of the liver treated by the same methods with a surprisingly low mortality, 1.5 per cent. It seems that the continuous percutaneous drainage of the pyogenic abscess of the liver, guided by computed tomography scan or ultrasonography, may be the method of choice and that open surgical drainage should be limited to special instances.