A case of an hepatic abscess that developed after percutaneous transhepatic
drainage of a subphrenic abscess is presented. The location of the abscess
immediately along the tract of the drainage catheter and the similar organ
isms recovered from bacteriologic culture suggest that the abscess was rela
ted to direct contamination along the tract of the drainage catheter. The p
otential for abscess formation within the liver should be considered in the
choice of access route for percutaneous drainage of retroabdominal abscess
es. It may be preferable to avoid transhepatic drainage in patients in whom
it is anticipated that the catheter drainage will require considerable len
gth of time.