Ss. Baijal et al., COMPLEX RUPTURED AMEBIC LIVER-ABSCESSES - THE ROLE OF PERCUTANEOUS CATHETER DRAINAGE, European journal of radiology, 20(1), 1995, pp. 65-67
The failure of medical therapy for amebic liver abscess may be followe
d by its perforation, a complication associated with high mortality. W
e assessed the role of percutaneous catheter drainage in management of
the sequelae of ruptured amebic abscesses in 13 critically ill patien
ts; 22 intrahepatic lesions, three of which were multiloculated, were
drained. Catheters were also placed in 17 extrahepatic collections: pl
eural space (n = 5), subphrenic (n = 7), perihepatic/subhepatic (n = 3
), greater sac of peritoneum (n = 2). No attempt at percutaneous drain
age failed. Prompt resolution of clinical features following drainage
was a uniform feature. Successful resolution of the abscesses occurred
within 20 days in 11 patients. In the remaining two, catheters needed
to be retained in situ for 35 and 50 days. The mean hospital stay was
15 days (range 10-20 days). 100% patient survival was achieved, witho
ut a single morbid episode. Our results suggest that patients with rup
tured amebic abscesses can be effectively and safely managed by percut
aneous catheter drainage irrespective of the extent of extrahepatic co
ntamination.