Percutaneous Catheter Drainage of Liver Abscesses

During a period of 32 months, 25 patients with liver abscess underwent percutaneous drainage under sonographic guidance - 22 had solitary abscess, while 3 had multiple abscesses. Pigtail catheters of various sizes were introduced in these patients using the Seldinger technique. The volume of pus drained ranged from 120 to 2500 ml, while the period of catheter drainage ranged from 6 to 38 days. Complications were minor and included catheter blockage in 3 patients, dislodgment in 3, tract pain and infection in 2 patients each. There was no mortality associated with this procedure. This study shows a success rate of 88% (successful treatment in 22 out of 25 patients). Hence this study confirms that percutaneous catheter drainage of liver abscesses is successful with a low morbidity and mortality and should be the first line of management in liquefied moderate to large sized liver abscesses.