title: Surgical management of pyogenic liver abscess.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although Pyogenic Liver Abscess (PLA) has lower mortality rate in recent years due to the broad spectrum antibiotic usage, developed imaging techniques and improved intensive care services, it is still a potentially fatal disease. The objective of this study is to examine the treatment methods and our case load with the current literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 55 patients with PLA, between January 2000 and December 2009, records of 28 who received surgical drainage treatment have retrospectively been analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen (67.9%) of the patients were male, while 9 (32.1%) were female. Average age was 41.07 (15-76). Seven (25%) had associated disease. The most common symptoms were fever and abdominal pain. Twenty three (82.1%) patients had single and 5 (17.9%) had multiple cavitary lesion. Nineteen (67.9%) patients had abscess on the right and 7 (25%) had on the left one, while 2 (7.1%) had on both lobes. All were treated surgically, because of 11 (39.3%) inappropriate localization for percutaneous treatment, 6 (21.5%) insufficient percutaneous drainage, 6 (21.5%) intraabdominal free rupture and 5 (17.7%) multiple cavitary lesion. We observed 5 pulmonary complications, 5 wound infections and 2 perihepatic collections. The average hospital stay was 11.2 days. We observed only two deaths (7.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical treatment is the sole option for the patients with PLA who; (a) can't be treated by percutaneous drainage or had an unsuccessful one, (b) have multiple abscess cavity, (c) are thought to have perforated abscess, (d) have additional abdominal pathology requiring laparatomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey. draonder@gmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Onder
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Böyük
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gümüş
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tekbaş
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Girgin
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Tacyildiz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046290:Liver Abscess, Pyogenic / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies