Current concepts on subphrenic abscess

The recent classification of the subphrenic region divides it into two spaces on each side of which the subphrenic abscess can occur. The infectious, traumatic and operative causes, symptoms and signs, diagnostic procedures and surgical treatment of subphrenic abscess are discussed. An illustrative case report in which a right-sided abscess was drained by means of the Clairmont approach is presented. Comments are made concerning an additional eighteen patients with subphrenic abscess. A high index of suspicion will help to preclude the clinician's overlooking or misdiagnosing this insidious lesion; the only effective treatment is surgical drainage.