ABSTRACT
To analyze the scope of laparoscopic drainage of liver abscesses in patients where surgical drainage was indicated. Design: An observational ongoing prospective study. Place and Duration of Study: It was conducted in the Department of Surgery, Bahawal-Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur during the period from October, 1997 to March, 2000. Subjects and Out of 58 patients of liver abscesses managed during this period 11 were included in the study. The inclusion criterion was failure of complete cure by percutaneous needle aspiration. Laparoscopic drainage was done successfully in all the cases. The recovery in terms of postoperative temperature, pain, hospital stay and disappearance of abscess on ultrasound was recorded for each patient. We did not encounter any mortality or any significant morbidity. There was no technical problem in the procedure. All patients recovered satisfactorily. It is concluded that laparoscopic drainage of liver abscesses is a good alternative to open surgical drainage in terms of surgical trauma, hospital stay, total cost as well as postoperative morbidity and mortality