Treatment of Liver Abscess / 한국간담췌외과학회지

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the changing pattern of liver abscess treatment, we did a retrospective analysis of 80 patients with liver abscess, treated surgically and medically at the Department of Surgery and Internal Medicine, Wonkwang University Hospital from January 1985 to December, 1995. RESULTS: Among 80cases of liver abscess, 59 cases(76%) were pyogenic abscess and 21 cases(24%) were amebic abscess. The liver abscess was more commonly located in the right lobe. In the 59cases of pyogenic liver abscess, etiologic factors were biliary stones with cholangitis(19 cases), cholecystitis(6 cases), hepatobiliary cancer(4 cases), diabetes mellitus(3 cases). All 21 cases of amebic abscess were treated with percutaneous catheter drainage and metronidazole administration; 20 cases were treated successfully and 1 case died of sepsis. Among the 59 cases of pyogenic liver abscess, 38 cases were treated with percutaneous catheter drainage; 30 cases were successful, but 8 cases were not. Operations were performed in 21 cases because of underlying intraabdominal conditions requiring surgical correction( 19cases) and panperitonitis due to rupture of liver abscess(2cases). CONCLUSION: In the treatment of amebic abscss, percutaneous catheter drainage and metanidazole adminstration should be considered first. Percutaneous catheter drainage and antibiotic treatment tend to increase more than surgical treatment in the pyogenic liver abscess therapy. The liver abscess is no more surgical indication, unless it is associated with underlying intraabdominal conditions requiring surgical correction and panperitonitis due to rupture of liver abscess.

Safety of Early Postoperative Feeding after Elective Colorectal Surgery

Introduction: Several investigators demonstrated that routine nasogastric decompression after abdominal surgery was unnecessary and can be safely eliminated. Some authors suggested that early feeding could be tolerated by the majority of patients after elective colorectal surgery. PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to prospectively assess the safety and tolerability of early oral feeding after colorectal surgery. METHODS: This trial included 69 patients who underwent an colon or rectal operation between April 1997 and August 1998. Patients were randomized after the operative procedure into one of two groups. Group 1: early oral feeding-all patents received a clear liquid diet on the first postoperative day followed by a regular diet as tolerated. Group 2: delayed feeding-all patients were treated in the traditional way with feeding only after the resolution of their postoperative ileus. Both groups had intraoperative nasogastric tubes that were removed at the end of surgery. The patients were monitored for vomiting, nasogastric tube reinsertion, time of regular diet consumption, complication, and length of hospitalization. The nasogastric tube was reinserted if two or more episodes of vomiting of more than 100 ml occurred in the absence of bowel movement. RESULTS: Sixty-nine consecutive patients were studied, 34 patients in group 1 (12 males and 22 females, mean age 58.1+/-12.7), and 35 patients in group 2 (16 males and 19 females, mean age 58.5+/-12.7). Significant differences were not noted in age and type of procedures. No significant differences were seen in rates of vomiting and overall complications. However, early feeding group well tolerated a regular diet (postoperative period to take regular diet of group 1: 5.4+/-4.0 days, group 2 : 8.1+/-4.6 days, p=0.013), and were discharged from hospital significantly earlier than the delayed feeding group(group 1: 14.0+/-5.1 days, group 2: 19.1+/-8.6 days, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Early feeding after colorectal surgery is successfully tolerated by the majority of patients and led to earlier hospital discharge.