[Percutaneous drainage of pyogenic hepatic abscesses]

Thirty-five patients with pyogenic hepatic abscesses who underwent percutaneous drainage techniques are analyzed in a study period that comprises six years (from 1986 to 1992). Of the 35 cases, 7 (20%) presented abscesses smaller than 5 cm and were drained by puncture aspiration only. All of them were cured. One or more pig-tail 8 F catheters were placed in the remaining 28 patients (80%). The cure rate was 78.5%. The average drainage period comprised 15 days. Fourteen patients (40%) presented lesser complications during either the procedure in itself or the convalescence period, bacteriemia being the most frequent one. The mortality rate was 17%.