Talat Naheed, Tashir Rana, Bushra Fiaz, Nasrullah, A A Shah.
An Experience of Liver Abscesses in a Teaching Hospital of Lahore.
Biomedica Jan ;14:73-7.

Liver abscess is still common in poor socio-economic strata and unhealthy living. A prospective study was carried out in one of the medical wards of Mayo Hospital, between January 1995 and December 1997. Twenty four patients of liver abscess with male preponderance (83.33%) wore studied. Fever (100%) and pain right hypochondrium (100%) were the most common symptoms followed by anorexia (66.66%) and jaundice (41.66%). Ultrasonography was the single most helpful investigation for diagnosis, for aspiration of abscess and to monitor the prognosis. Single (R) lobe defects in 12 / 24 (50%) and multiple focal defects in 10/24 (41:67) were noticed. Pyogenic abscesses were more prevalent in patients with gall stones and chronic abdominal problems. Jaundice was more pronounced in patients with pyogenic abscesses and these patients were more sick than those with amoebic liver abscess. Early diagnosis and treatment prevented complications, like rupture of abscess in thoracic and peritoneal cavity. Twenty three of the 24 (95.5%) recovered completely on treatment whereas 1/24 (4.15%) developed septicaemia and died.

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