CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND MANAGEMENT OF AMOEBIC LIVER ABSCESS

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES ALA has gained importance during recent years as a result of increasing world travel, economic globalization and the growing number of chronically immunosuppressed people. AIDS and the increasing use of organ transplants have led to a new population at risk. In our study we aimed to analyse the clinical presentation and management of Amoebic liver abscess at Sree Rajarajeshwari Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore. METHODS A hospital based prospective observational study was conducted between Dec. 2013 to June 2015 in Sree Rajarajeshwari Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore. All patients admitted with suspicion of liver abscess were confirmed with ultrasonography. After establishing sonological diagnosis according to criteria, the treatment was started from the day of admission which consisted of Antibiotics, USG guided Aspiration, Pigtail catheterization and Open surgical Drainage. RESULTS Forty five cases of Amoebic liver abscess were studied; 28 patients (62%) were between 21 and 40 years of age. Male-to-Female ratio was 14:1. All the patients were from rural background. History of alcoholism was present in 10 patients (22.2%). Plain X-ray abdomen showed signs of peritonitis in 2 patients. Right lobe of liver was involved in 40 cases and left lobe in 3 cases. Both lobes were involved in 2 cases. Twenty six cases were treated conservatively, 11 cases by aspiration, 6 patients by pigtail catheterization. Two patients underwent open surgical drainage for perforated liver abscess. Complications noted in our series were rupture into peritoneal cavity in 2 cases; mortality was seen in 1 case. CONCLUSION Amoebic liver abscess is still one of the commonest parasitic infections of the liver in developing countries. Prompt diagnosis, aggressive medical treatment along with minimal intervention can keep the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition to a bare minimum. The scope of surgery in this condition is minimal and limited to complications of rupture.