[Diagnosis and treatment of liver abscess after orthotopic liver transplantation].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis of liver abscess after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).


METHODS
Of 274 recipients of OLT from January 1993 to June 2003 in our transplant center, liver abscess were identified in 6 recipients (2.2%). The clinical presentation included fever, shiver, abdominal pain, jaundice, hepatic dysfunction, hypoalbuminemia, anemia, leukocytosis and neutrophilia. They were diagnosed mainly according to the clinical presentation and Ultrasonography or CT scan. The treatments included aspiration and drainage of abscess, removing bile sludge, antibiotics and supportive therapy.


RESULTS
Of 6 patients, 2 were cured, 3 refused liver retransplantation and 2 died of serious systemic infection. The cure rate was 33.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
the etiology of liver abscess after OLT is complicated. The predisposing factors might be included hepatic artery thrombosis or stenosis, MP pulse therapy, cholangitis and biliary interventional therapy. Its prognosis seemed disappointing. Strong prophylactic measures should be recommended to reduce the liver abscess after OLT.
Wang
Gen-shu
GS
Transplant Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhongshan University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Chen
Gui-hua
GH
He
Xiao-shun
XS
Zhu
Xiao-feng
XF
Lu
Min-qiang
MQ
Yang
Yang
Y
Cai
Chang-jie
CJ
Wang
Guo-dong
GD
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged