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Pyogenic Liver Abscess

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Abdominal Sepsis

Abstract

A hepatic abscess is a suppurated cavity caused by the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms within the liver parenchyma [1]. It can be bacterial (pyogenic), parasitic (amebic), mixed (pyogenic superinfection of parasitic abscess), or rarely fungal. Adult pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a major hepatobiliary infection with mortality of up to 46% [2–4]. The recent improvement in mortality can be attributed to improved understanding of sepsis with advances in interventional radiology and critical care. The cornerstone of PLA treatment remains antibiotic therapy with percutaneous drainage/aspiration. The first significant study on PLAs was performed by Ochsner in 1938, and he reported association with young men, portal pyemia, and 77% mortality [5].

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Correspondence to Vishal G. Shelat FRCS, FEBS(HPB Surg) .

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Danson, Y., Yuan, T.M., Shelat, V.G. (2018). Pyogenic Liver Abscess. In: Sartelli, M., Bassetti, M., Martin-Loeches, I. (eds) Abdominal Sepsis. Hot Topics in Acute Care Surgery and Trauma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59704-1_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59704-1_8

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