Video-assisted hepatic abscess debridement

Abstract

BackgroundPyogenic liver abscesses are currently treated by either percutaneous computer tomography (CT)-guided drainage or by laparoscopic and a conventional liver resection when conservative treatment fails but may be associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. MethodsA minimally invasive technique involving debridement of right liver abscesses was employed using a minimally invasive video-assisted hepatic abscess debridement (VAHD) after unsuccessful percutaneous CT-guided drainage. Clinical data, complication rates and outcomes of patients were recorded retrospectively. ResultsBetween 2011 and 2014, VAHD was performed on 10 patients at two centres with no observed recurrence of a liver abscess. The median age of the patients was 57 years (range 42–78) with a median pre-operative size of a liver abscess of 78 mm (range 40–115). The median operation time was 47 min (range 23–75), and the median postoperative hospital stay was 9 days (range 7–69). One patient developed a subcutaneous abscess that required further surgery. No patient died, and there were no major complications related to the VAHD. ConclusionsVideo-assisted hepatic abscess debridement is a feasible technique that shows promising results for the treatment of a recurrent right liver abscess.