Amoebic liver abscess: aspiration versus conservative treatment

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted at Liaquat Medical College Hospital Jamshoro, Hyderabad for comparing the results of therapeutic needle aspiration versus drug treatment alone in amoebic liver abscess. Fifty patients were enrolled, out of which 27 were considered for both ultrasound guided needle aspiration [s] and drugs, and 23 were treated with drugs alone. Results showed that abscess cavities of 26 patients [96.3 percent] of the aspirated group and 13 patients [56.5 percent] of the non-aspirated group resolved at the end of third week. It was observed that therapeutic needle aspiration [s] under ultrasound guidance was more effective in achieving rapid clinical response and it accelerates resolution and has additional advantages of being inexpensive and simple with short hospital stay