title: [Liver abscesses--complications after prosthesis and stent occlusions].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with malignant, unresectable biliary strictures and endoprosthesis or stents for drainage often develop liver abscess. The aim of the investigation was to assess the relationship and the factors causing the development of these abscesses.
  
  
  METHODS
  9 patients with a median age of 65.6 years, liver abscess and endoprosthesis or stents were studied retrospectively. The occlusions were made visible sonographically and by ERC or PTC. With sonography the abscess was diagnosed and punctured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  5 patients (56%) had a bile duct carcinoma, two patients had a distal tumor stenosis, one a tumor of the gallbladder and one an obstructive jaundice due to liver metastases. 8 patients required a percutaneous drainage (PTCD). 6 cases of occlusions were found. 1 patient had a biliary obstruction because of a broken endoprosthesis. On an average it took 11.6 months from the first endoprosthesis or stent placement to the formation of an abscess. Plastic endoprostheses tend to occlude more rapidly (5 months versus 17.6 with stents). After the sonographically guided puncture of the liver abscess, i.v. antibiotics were given for 5 to 14 days. The antibiotics were continued orally. Two cases required a sonographically placed percutaneous drainage. 78% of the abscesses could be cured. One patient died because of sepsis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver abscesses were connected with intrahepatic carcinomas (56%). In such cases drainage is difficult and requires many interventions. Furthermore, we find this especially after percutaneous transhepatic drainage and with plastic endoprostheses.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik C, Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen gGmbH.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Engler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benz
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Riemann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001651:Cholestasis, Extrahepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011677:Punctures; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
vernacular_title: Leberabszesse--Komplikationen nach Prothesen- und Stentokklusionen.