title: Hepatic abscesses in immunocompromised patients: ultrasonically guided percutaneous drainage.
abstract: Ultrasonically guided percutaneous drainage (US-PD) is considered first-line therapy for hepatic abscesses, but no data are available on its efficacy in severely immunocompromised patients. Therefore, we examined 15 such patients in whom one or more hepatic abscesses of different etiology were treated with US-PD. Eleven patients underwent needle aspiration and four had catheter drainage under US guidance. In 12 cases we achieved complete healing of the abscesses. In one case, clinical improvement was obtained but surgery was required for cure. In another case (fungal abscess in AIDS), we had no improvement and the patient died. No procedural complications were observed. Seven patients died during the follow-up periods of up to 49 months from their underlying disease. We conclude that US-PD must be considered the therapy of choice for hepatic abscess (except the fungal lesions) in severely immunocompromised patients.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Piacenza, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Civardi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Filice
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caremani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giorgio
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D014463:Ultrasonography