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Liver Abscess

 

  • Pyogenic abscess, accounts for 80% of abscess.
  • Amebic abscess due to Entamoeba histolytica, accounts for 10%.
  • Fungal abscess, accounts for < 10%.
  • 50% of solitary liver abscesses occur in the right Liver lobe.
  • Right hepatic lobe (~75%), less commonly left (20%) or caudate (5%) lobes.
  • Pyogenic abscesses are usually polymicrobial.
  • 50% of the bacterial cases develop by cholangitis. 
  • Pyogenic Abscess- initial manifestation of an occult intra‐abdominal malignancy (up to 15%).
  • Positive blood cultures in up to 50%.
  • Most common organisms: E. coli, Klebsiella, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, & anaerobes.
  • K pneumoniae thought to be associated with colorectal cancer.
  • Fever in 90% & abdominal pain in about 50-75%.
  • In-hospital mortality estimated at 2.5% -19%

       Drainage of the abscess & antibiotic treatment are the cornerstones of treatment.

  • Antibiotic Therapy: 
        If the size of the abscess < 3-5 cm
        Oral antibiotics are given after intravenous antibiotics are first administered. 
  • Percutaneous Drainage: 
         Abscess > 5 cm
         Continuous fever despite 48-72 hours of ABX therapy
         Indications that the abscess may rupture
         U/S or CT-guided aspiration & drainage- first-line treatment. 
  • Surgery:
          Where percutaneous drainage is impractical.
          When there are complications like rupture or numerous abscesses. 
          Open surgery or laparoscopic surgery.


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