Geetha Danasekaran1, Surendran Sankarapandian2, Manivannan Palani3
BACKGROUND
Liver abscess continues to be a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to the medical fraternity. It is a life-threatening and a potentially serious condition if left untreated. Therefore, it is very important for prompt diagnosis and appropriate management at the earliest. This study was conducted to assess the incidence, aetiology, clinical presentation, management and prognosis of liver abscess in patients attending a tertiary care referral hospital.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was conducted in Madurai Medical College Hospital, Madurai, from March 2015 to August 2016. The study population consists of patients admitted in General Surgery Wards of Madurai Medical College and Hospital, Madurai, with features suggestive of liver abscess.
RESULTS
Liver abscess was more commonly seen in the age group of 41-50 years. Male predominance 97.9% was seen in liver abscess. Nearly, two thirds of cases of liver abscess had a history of alcohol intake. Majority of liver abscess were amoebic and nearly 10% were pyogenic. Escherichia coli was the commonest organism causing pyogenic liver abscess. Abdominal pain was the commonest symptom of liver abscess followed by abdominal distension and fever. Right hypochondrial tenderness and intercostal tenderness were the common clinical signs in liver abscess. There was a predominant involvement of the right lobe of the liver. Percutaneous aspiration of abscess with antiamoebic and antibiotics forms the mainstay of treatment. Percutaneous catheter drainage is method of choice in failed aspiration and laparoscopic drainage or laparotomy and drainage is indicated in ruptured liver abscess.
CONCLUSION
Liver abscess was more commonly seen in the age group of 41-50 years. Male predominance 97.9% was seen in liver abscess. Nearly, two-thirds of cases of liver abscess had a history of alcohol intake. Majority of liver abscess were amoebic and nearly 10% were pyogenic. Escherichia coli was the commonest organism causing pyogenic liver abscess. Abdominal pain was the commonest symptom of liver abscess followed by abdominal distension and fever. Right hypochondrial tenderness and intercostal tenderness were the common clinical signs in liver abscess.
