[Liver abscess: clinical, imaging and management features in a 5 year study in the Arzobispo Loayza National Hospital].

UNLABELLED: The liver abscess (LA) continues to cause a high morbidity and mortality worldwide.

OBJECTIVES: To determine demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, imaging and management at the Arzobispo Loayza Hospital in 5 years.

METHODS: A descriptive retrospective study, based on medical records of patients diagnosed with LA between January 2003 to December 2007.

RESULTS: Of 106 medical records reviewed, 46 entered the study. The mean age was 47.8 years (95% CI 41.9-53.8 years), 21 patients were over 50 years (45.6%) and 52.2% were male. The main symptoms were fever (95.6%) and right upper quadrant pain (73.5%). The average time of disease was 2.5 weeks. We found high frequency of hypoalbuminemia, elevated alkaline phosphatase, leukocytosis and anemia. The diagnosis was mostly based on ecography (97.8%), AH were mainly a single abscess (73%) located in the right lobe (77%), with an average diameter of 70 mm (p25-75: 44-90 mm), and 69.6% had more than 5 cm in diameter. Antibiotics were administered for 18.6 days (range: 3-30), being the combination administered more frequently metronidazole and ciprofloxacin. Seventeen patients (36.9%) underwent surgery, 7 patients (15.2%) received external drainage by percutaneous catheter and 10.9% (5 patients) was aspirated directly.

CONCLUSION: LA is an acute or subacute disease of middle age without gender bias, whose main symptoms are fever and right upper quadrant pain. It is necessary to protocolize the management of this condition.