LAPAROSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF RUPTURED PYOGENIC LIVER-ABSCESS

Intraperitoneal rupture of pyogenic liver abscess is a rare but potent ially fatal disease, often involving the elderly, who are commonly of poor surgical risk with background of significant medical illness. Acc urate preoperative diagnosis is difficult and often necessitates explo ratory laparotomy for peritonitis. We report a case of ruptured crypto genic solitary liver abscess presented with acute peritonitis that was successfully treated laparoscopically. The laparoscopic approach obvi ated the access trauma, confirmed the diagnosis, was able to drain the abscess, as well as provided microbiology and histology samples. A th orough peritoneal lavage could be also performed. The use of laparosco pic ultrasound could also localize concomitant abscesses and detect as sociated biliary tract pathology.