title: Splenic abscess: a single institution study and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to review our experience with splenic abscesses, with respect to the relevant aspects of splenic abscesses and treatment outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the cases of 18 patients who had splenic abscesses and who were treated at our hospital from November 1993 to December 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common symptom at presentation was abdominal pain in 12 patients (66.7%). The median duration from symptom onset until establishment of a diagnosis was 22 days. Streptococcus viridans was the most common pathogen (27.8%), follow by Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.2%). The mortality rate during the inpatient period and the previous 90 days was 16.6%. Three of four patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae showed a single abscess pocket. Four patients (22.2%) underwent percutaneous drainage, eight (44.5%) received antibiotic treatment only and six (33.3%) underwent splenectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no gold standard for treating splenic abscesses. Treatment should be customized for each patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Gil Hospital, 1198 Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon 405-760, Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Suk
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Keon Kuk
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013156:Splenectomy; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034363:Viridans Streptococci; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents