Percutaneous Abscess Drainage of Multiloculated Liver Abscess

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Recently there have been some reports that percutaneous absces drainage(PAD) was ineffective in treating multiloculated liver abscess. We therefae, reviewed our results of catheter drainage in jultiloculated liver absces. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PADs in 10 cases of multiloculated liver abscesses were performed with 8.5F Pig tail, 12 & 14F Sump cahteters, under ultrasonic & fluoroscopic guidance. RESULTS: All the 10 cases were successfully drained without major complications. Mean drainage duration was 16.3 day and the result was not significantly different from those obtained by draining unilocular pyogenic liver abscess. The success was the result of using large caliber catheter and repetition in insertion of guidewire deeply into abscess cavity to make communications between the Iocules which was proven by abscessogram. CONCLUSION: PAD was safe and effective method for multiloculated abscess as unilocular liver abscess, and it is recommended that the multiloculated liver abscess be draincd.