Percutaneous drainage of hepatic abscesses: comparison of results in abscesses with and without intrahepatic biliary communication

Results of percutaneous drainage performed in eight patients with eight liver abscesses with intrahepatic biliary communication and 22 patients with 26 liver abscesses without biliary communication were analyzed to determine whether the presence of an intrahepatic biliary communication affected the outcome of treatment. The clinical features and response to treatment of both groups were compared. The presence or absence of biliary communication was determined by injection of contrast material into the abscess under fluoroscopic guidance either during or several days after initial drainage. Duration of drainage was longer (p less than .05) in patients with communication (range, 7-44 days; mean, 22 days) than in patients without communication (range, 1-33 days; mean, 13 days). Percutaneous drainage was curative in five (63%) and palliative or temporizing in one (13%) of eight patients with communication. It was curative in 15 (68%) and palliative or temporizing in five (23%) of 22 patients without communication (p = .317). Liver abscesses with intrahepatic biliary communication did not require percutaneous transhepatic biliary diversion for cure. Despite longer duration of drainage for abscesses with intrahepatic biliary communication, the cure rates of percutaneous drainage for both groups were similar. Patients in whom an intrahepatic biliary communication was shown did not require alternative interventional or surgical measures for cure.