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Liver abscesses.

Clinical suspicion of a liver abscess mandates an investigation of the liver for evidence of a liver abscess by radionuclide, ultrasound, or CT scan. Amebic abscesses have a lower mortality rate than pyogenic abscesses. Amebic and pyogenic abscesses can be distinguished on the basis of epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory studies. The definitive studies for identifying amebic liver abscesses are hemagglutinin or gel diffusion studies. Amebic abscess of the liver may be complicated by extension to the lung, with pulmonary complications. Patients suspected to have amebic abscesses require metronidazole. Emetine or chloroquine may be added if there is no response or if the abscess recurs. Unless there is a failure of the amebic abscess to resolve or secondary infection occurs, there is seldom a need to aspirate or drain these abscesses. Pyogenic abscesses should be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics to cover gram-negative aerobes and anaerobic organisms. All pyogenic abscesses larger than 1.5 cm in diameter should be aspirated, and the aspirate should be Gram stained and cultured. Percutaneous or surgical drainage should then be performed. Operative intervention is required in those patients with intra-abdominal pyogenic infections that are seeding the liver abscess. The marked reduction in the mortality rate of pyogenic liver abscess witnessed in this decade is multifaceted and attributable in part to earlier diagnosis, permitting definitive treatment in a timely fashion, as well as to improved intensive unit care, antibiotic management, and operative technique.

Adult↗

Colonic involvement in patients with amebic liver abscess: endoscopic findings.

BACKGROUND: Amebic liver abscess is the most common form of extraintestinal amebiasis. Although the parasite enters the liver via the portal vein after invading large bowel mucosa, only 15% to 30% of patients have diarrhea. This study was done to evaluate colonic involvement in patients with amebic liver abscesses. METHODS: In a prospective study, colonoscopy was performed in 50 patients with amebic liver abscesses and 15 control patients with acute amebic colitis. The findings were correlated with clinical features and ultrasonographic appearances. RESULTS: Most patients with amebic liver abscesses presented with fever and abdominal pain. Complete examination of the colon was possible in 45 patients. Twenty six (58%) had evidence of lesions in the colon. Twenty-three of 45 (51%) patients had a few discrete, small ulcers restricted to the right side of colon. Three of 45 (7%) patients with liver abscesses, who also had diarrhea at presentation, had larger and more numerous ulcers with inflammation of the surrounding mucosa of the left colon. Control patients with amebic colitis presented with diarrhea. Endoscopically, they all had multiple large ulcers with diffuse inflammation of the intervening mucosa of the left colon, similar to that seen in patients with liver abscess having diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: Colonic involvement is common in patients with amebic liver abscess but most patients do not suffer from diarrhea, possibly because of very limited extent of the pathology that is confined mainly to the right side of colon.

Adult↗

Pyogenic liver abscess.

BACKGROUND: A current assessment of liver abscesses should allow for better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and improve the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment. Amebic liver abscess occurs more commonly than pyogenic liver abscess on a worldwide basis. However, in the United States, pyogenic liver abscess predominates. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the etiology, management, morbidity, and mortality of all patients admitted to our medical center with diagnoses of pyogenic liver abscess between 1983 and 1996. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients admitted to our medical center, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport, with diagnoses of pyogenic liver abscess. RESULTS: Twenty patients were admitted with diagnoses of pyogenic liver abscess. The subjects were 65% (13/20) male and 65% (13/20) African-American and had an average age of 52 years. The most common presenting symptoms were fever and pain. The most common physical finding was right upper-quadrant tenderness. The most common etiologies of pyogenic liver abscesses were cryptogenic, trauma, and biliary, while portal vein was the source for only 10% of the cases. The right lobe of the liver was involved in 95% of the cases, and 70% of these liver abscesses were solitary. Computed tomography (CT)-and ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage were performed in 85% (17/20) of patients with liver abscesses. One patient was treated by open drainage, three patients were treated with antibiotics alone, and three patients did not respond to aspiration and catheter placement, which subsequently required open drainage. The culture results were as follows: 50% were gram-negative organisms, 25% were gram-positive organisms, 10% were anaerobic organisms, and 15% of the abscess were sterile. Sixty percent of the positive abscess cultures were polymicrobial. CONCLUSIONS: CT scan- and ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage of pyogenic liver abscesses were safe and effective methods of treatment. The right lobe of the liver was involved in 95% of cases. Although no one species predominated, gram-negative bacteria were the most common organism cultured, and 60% of the abscesses were polymicrobial. There was no in-house mortality in this review.

Adult↗

[Liver abscess formation after treatment of liver cancer by arterial injection using adriamycin/mitomycin C oil suspension (ADMOS)].

Of 210 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 135), metastatic liver cancer (n = 71) and cholangiocarcinoma (n = 4) who underwent intra-arterial infusion of adriamycin and/or mitomycin C oil suspension (ADMOS) and cisplatin, and both regimens, pyogenic liver abscess occurred in seven (3.3%). The percentages of abscess formation in the respective types of liver cancer were 0.8, 7.0 and 25%. These differences among the three types of liver cancer were attributed to the volume of the tumor vascular beds to be embolized, which might determine the relative amount or regional Lipiodol retention in the tumor and normal liver tissue. Four of seven patients with hepatic abscess had received the intra-arterial infusion of ADMOS, and their angiographic findings showed sequential decreases in the vascular beds of the tumor in comparison with those of previous infusion procedures; all had hypovascular liver tumors angiographically. We have never experienced this complication in other treatments such as embolization of the hepatic arteries and intra-arterial infusion of water-soluble anticancer drugs alone. These results suggest that the most important factor leading to abscess formation is the ischemic destruction of the intrahepatic ducts secondary to occlusion of the peribiliary arterial plexus by Lipiodol and/or the direct effects of anticancer drugs on these vessels. To avoid this complication, the volume of Lipiodol used for intraarterial infusion therapy should be carefully determined, especially when the patient has hypovascular tumors of the liver and a history of multiple previous intraarterial infusion procedures of anticancer drug. The use of ADMOS should be avoided in patients with hypovascular tumors of the liver such as secondary deposits and cholangiocarcinoma.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗

Liver abscess in Crohn's disease.

Liver abscess is a rare but serious complication of Crohn's disease. Intra-abdominal abscesses, fistulous disease, and metronidazole or steroid therapy have all been reported to be important predisposing factors in the pathogenesis of the disease, and the mortality has been reported to be high. We report six patients who developed a liver abscess as a complication of Crohn's disease. Three patients presented with a liver abscess as the first manifestation of Crohn's disease and two others had quiescent disease at presentation. The diagnosis was delayed by 1-8 wk after the onset of fever because of the paucity of signs indicating a hepatic infection. None of the patients had intra-abdominal abscesses, active fistulas, or metronidazole therapy before the onset of symptoms. The only predisposing conditions identified were two minor skin infections in patients developing staphylococcal liver abscesses. Nonoperative catheter drainage was successful in four of the six patients. One patient required surgical placement of drains, and the patient with the longest delay before diagnosis required hepatic lobectomy because of extensive necrosis. Shaking chills, fever with leukocytosis, and an elevated alkaline phosphatase are suggestive of a liver abscess and should prompt an ultrasound examination. Catheter drainage with antibiotic therapy is effective if the liver abscess is diagnosed before extensive necrosis has occurred. Minor skin infections may predispose to staphylococcal liver abscess in some cases.

Adolescent↗

Management of amebic and pyogenic liver abscess.

The management of pyogenic liver abscess differs radically from that of amebic liver abscess. Medical management is the cornerstone of therapy in amebic liver abscess while early intervention in the form of surgical therapy or catheter drainage and parenteral antibiotics is the rule in pyogenic liver abscess. The prognosis of amebic abscess is much better than that of pyogenic abscess and usually a quick response to therapy is seen in amebic abscess.

Humans↗

Blunt trauma and liver abscess.

Three cases of pyogenic liver abscess following blunt trauma to the torso are described. The association between blunt trauma with liver contusion and the development of bacterial pyogenic liver abscess is explored. Reported series of liver abscess are reviewed. It is suggested that physicians look for the development of liver abscess in patients who have had major blunt trauma to the torso. Physicians should also inquire about blunt trauma in patients with documented pyogenic liver abscesses.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Management of liver abscess.

Thirteen patients with amebic liver abscess and 26 with pyogenic abscess were identified during a 10 year period. All but one patient with an amebic abscess had emigrated or traveled to areas where amebiasis was endemic. Half of the patients in whom pyogenic abscesses developed had debilitating disease and anemia. Factors predisposing to multiple rather than solitary hepatic abscess were biliary tract disease before surgery, cancer, chemotherapy, steroid administration and alcoholism. Elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase and hypoalbuminemia were present in most patients. Three patients with amebic abscess died, two of whom has massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage from associated amebic colitis. No patient with a solitary pyogenic liver abscess died. Fifteen of 16 patients with multiple liver abscesses died. Failure to consider the diagnosis of liver abscess, confusion over interpretation of the scan, failure to operate or provide a timely operation and failure to adequately explore the abdomen or identify all abscesses were factors responsible for eight unnecessary deaths.

Adult↗

Percutaneous management of multiple bilateral liver abscesses complicating Crohn disease.

Liver abscess is a rare complication of Crohn disease. A case of multiple, bilateral, pyogenic liver abscesses appearing as a recurrent manifestation of Crohn disease in a 34-year-old man is reported. Conservative management with antibiotics, double-catheter drainage, and multiple aspirations was successful. The liver abscesses disappeared with no recurrence during a 5-year follow-up period.

Adult↗

Liver abscess after non-operative management of blunt liver injury.

BACKGROUND: The non-operative management of blunt liver trauma can be applied in almost 80% of patients with this type of injury, with the advantages of the need for fewer blood transfusions, less intra-abdominal sepsis, and a better survival rate, than with the operative approach. However, liver abscess, as a known complication of the non-operative management of blunt liver trauma, is discussed infrequently. Therefore, we herein review our experience and describe this complication in detail. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1995 to 2001, 674 patients were admitted to our hospital due to blunt hepatic trauma. Among these patients, 279 underwent laparotomy and the remaining 395 patients were treated non-operatively. Twenty-two patients were identified as having liver abscess, with 16 of them belonging to the operative group, and six to the non-operative group. A retrospective review of these six patients and their characteristics, as well as pathogenesis, diagnosis, and the management of the liver abscesses, was conducted. RESULTS: These six patients were all male, with a median age of 19.5 years (range 3-24). The median injury severity score was 16.5 (range 9-25); three patients sustained grade-3 hepatic injury, and the other three were grade 4. The main diagnostic tool was abdominal computed tomography, and the abscesses took a median of 6 days (range 1-12) to form and be diagnosed. The abscesses were usually caused by infection from mixed organisms, and an abscess resulting from Clostridium infection developed within 1 day after injury. These abscesses were treated with antibiotics and drainage, and the median length of hospital stay was 26 days (range 8-44), without mortality or long-term morbidity. CONCLUSION: Liver abscess as a complication of the non-operative management of blunt hepatic trauma is a rare entity, with an incidence of 1.5% (6/395). It is usually seen in severe liver injury (grade 3 and above), but all our patients were all treated successfully, with no mortality. However, prolonged hospitalization may be required in this patient group.

Abdominal Injuries↗

[Amoebic liver abscess: echographic aspects].

Amoebic liver abscess is the most frequent location of the extra-intestine amibiasis with an epidemio-endemic repartition in our areas. We are reporting in this study the main echographic patterns that can be found. 117 documents were collected and studied between 1982 and 1988 in the main hospitals of Dakar (SENEGAL). Most of the patients were young, the range of age being between 25 and 55 years old and 83% of them, were male. The diagnosis of the amoebic liver abscess was evocated on the basis of the following clinical and biological symptoms: 54.38% of painful haetomegaly, 42.10% of pleuro-pulmonary and digestive signs, 3.50% of long lasting isolated fever, non specific biological sign of inflammation, 74.57% of positive hemaglutination test. An echographic test was performed before the anti-parasitic treatment with an echotomograph PHILIPS SDR 1500 in real time using a probe of 3 MHZ. The amoebic abscess of liver was detected by the echography in all cases. The unique abscess (83.10%) was the most frequent form. It was localized in the right liver (64%) and had an heterogeneous echostructure (55.70%). The hypo-echogeneous form (36.50%) was the earlier stage of the collecting abscess. The liquid form (07.80%) was observed in the latter stages of the disease. Some difficulties to determine the amoebic abscess may appear when primitive liver cancer or pyogensus abscess are present. In these cases it is necessary to analyse the liquid of ponction to be affirmative.

Adult↗

Liver abscess formation after local treatment of liver tumors.

Our goal was to determine a subset of patients at high risk of developing liver abscesses after local treatment of liver tumors (LTLT) and establish guidelines for the conduct of LTLT in the safest conditions in such patients. Five hundred sixty-one LTLT, 489 transhepatic arterial chemoembolizations (TAC, 10 hepatic embolizations, and 62 percutaneous intratumor injections (PIT), were retrospectively reviewed for liver parenchyma necrosis and abscess formation. Four patients developed abscesses, three after TAC and one after PIT. Despite broad-spectrum antibiotherapy, percutaneous drainage, and surgery, two patients died. A left hepatectomy was required in the other two patients for cure. All four patients had a carcinoid or a neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor. Three out of four patients had bilioenteric anastomoses, and the fourth had recently undergone cholecystectomy and papillotomy. A Lipiodol/doxorubicin mixture without any particulate embolization was injected in the three patients who developed abscesses after TAC. LTLT in patients with bilio enteric anastomosis or papillotomy and/or neuroendocrine or carcinoid tumor should be performed with strict precautions during the procedure and for peri-procedural care.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Liver abscess caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: report of a case.

We report the case of a melioidosis-like abscess of the liver caused by Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas) maltophilia infection in a Chinese man living in Hungary. Although this appears to be the first documentation of a liver abscess of this origin in a nonimmunocompromised patient, our case report demonstrates that this common facultative pathogen can also cause liver abscess and sepsis. After repeated negative blood cultures, histological examinations of liver biopsies suggested the possibility of chronic melioidosis, but the microbiological examination performed directly on the same specimen identified a Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection. Surgical drainage was performed and sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim therapy was commenced, after which the patient recovered fully. The facultative pathogen S. maltophilia, which most often causes nosocomial infections, may cause severe sepsis and liver abscess. We wish to draw attention to the fact that the antibiotic sensitivity of S. maltophilia is not necessarily the same in vivo and in vitro. This can create difficulties in both diagnosis and treatment.

Adult↗

Cryptogenic invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Klebsiella pneumoniae-associated liver abscesses have distinct clinical and epidemiologic features. METHODS: We report the unusual case of an American patient with a K. pneumoniae-associated liver abscess and septic spread to other organs. We additionally present a comprehensive review of K. pneumoniae-associated liver abscess syndromes in adults. RESULTS: We identified three distinct K. pneumoniae liver abscess syndromes: the polymicrobial liver abscess, the monomicrobial cryptogenic noninvasive liver abscess, and the monomicrobial cryptogenic invasive K. pneumoniae-associated liver abscess (CIKPLA) syndromes, with distinct clinical, epidemiologic and outcome features. CIKPLA syndrome typically affects diabetic patients, mainly in Southeast Asia, and is complicated by septic spread to other organs. CONCLUSIONS: The community-acquired, monomicrobial, K. pneumoniae-associated liver abscess syndromes that typically occur in the USA are mainly noninvasive and affect Asian or Hispanic persons. However, this report provides an alert that CIKPLA syndrome can occur in North America, and physicians need to be aware of it.

Adult↗

Clinicopathological analysis of liver abscess in Japan.

Currently, pyogenic liver abscess is not frequent, but it is a severe infectious disease. However a strategy for the effective treatment of liver abscess is not established. We analyzed 75 cases of liver abscess over an eight year period and evaluated their prognosis, any associated underlying disease, or the effect of percutaneous transhepatic abscess drainage (PTAD). For all 75 cases, laboratory data were analyzed and imaging studies were performed. Next, PTAD and antibiotic administration were started on these cases as first choice treatments. These treatments were continued until the laboratory data of the patient were restored to within the normal range. Those cases that were PTAD non-effective or required operation for underlying diseases, underwent operations. Of the total 75 cases, 63 survived after treatment and 12 cases died. Bacteria were detected in 50 cases and Klebsiella pneumoniae was detected in 31 of these 50 cases, but 25 out of 75 cases were negative. The biliary system was the main route of infection. PTAD was effective, especially in cases that were complicated with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) or acute renal failure (ARF). PTAD is an effective treatment for liver abscess, it is especially useful in the restoration of severe general conditions as indicated by this study.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Pyogenic and amebic liver abscesses.

Pyogenic and amebic liver abscesses are the two most common hepatic abscesses. Amebic abscesses are more common in areas where Entamoeba histolytica is endemic, whereas pyogenic abscesses are more common in developed countries. Pyogenic abscess severity is dependent on the bacterial source and the underlying condition of the patient. Amebic liver abscess is more prevalent in individuals with suppressed cell-mediated immunity, men, and younger people. The right lobe of the liver is the most likely site of infection in both types of hepatic abscess. Patients usually present with a combination of fever, right-upper-quadrant abdominal pain, and hepatomegaly. Jaundice is more common in the pyogenic abscess. The diagnosis is often delayed and is usually made through a combination of radiologic imaging and microbiologic, serologic, and percutaneous techniques. Treatment involves antibiotics along with percutaneous drainage or surgery.

Animals↗