OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical characteristics and risk factors of pyogenic liver abscess complicated by sepsis in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 120 children with pyogenic liver abscess admitted from May 2004 to January 2024. According to the presence of sepsis, the children were divided into a sepsis group (82 cases) and a non-sepsis group (38 cases). The clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared, and risk factors associated with the occurrence of sepsis were identified. RESULTS: Among the 120 children with pyogenic liver abscess, 68.3% (82/120) had sepsis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that fever, elevated white blood cell count, and decreased albumin level were closely associated with the occurrence of sepsis (P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that white blood cell count and albumin levels had significant predictive value for sepsis (P<0.05), and the combination of white blood cell count and albumin level showed higher predictive value for sepsis than the albumin level alone (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The clinical manifestations of children with pyogenic liver abscess complicated by sepsis are non-specific. Fever, elevated white blood cell count, and decreased albumin level are risk factors for sepsis in children with pyogenic liver abscess. Clinically, for children with unexplained fever and imaging suggestive of liver abscess, pyogenic liver abscess should be considered. If laboratory tests show elevated white blood cell count and decreased albumin level simultaneously, there should be a high level of suspicion for the development of sepsis.
Humans ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic/blood* ; Male ; Female ; Risk Factors ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis/etiology* ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Child ; Leukocyte Count ; Logistic Models ; Adolescent ; Serum Albumin/analysis*

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of embedding the stump of gastroduodenal artery between the left lateral lobe of the liver and the left caudate lobe to prevent bleeding after laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods: The clinical data of 41 patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy at the second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from October 2021 to April 2022 were analyzed retrospectively.There were 27 males and 14 females, aged (63.0±9.2)years (range: 48 to 78 years), and the body mass index was (24.1±3.2)kg/m² (range: 15.4 to 31.6 kg/m²). After routine laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, the stump of gastroduodenal artery was embedded between the left lateral lobe and the left caudate lobe of the liver, and the hepatic parenchyma of the left lateral lobe and the left caudate lobe were sutured with absorbable sutures.The occurrence and recovery of postoperative complications (pancreatic fistula, biliary fistula, postoperative abdominal bleeding, abdominal infection, liver abscess) were observed. Results: All the operations of 41 patients were completed successfully.The operation time was (277.5±52.0) minutes (range: 192 to 360 minutes). The entrapment time of gastroduodenal artery stump was (3.1±0.6) minutes (range: 2.3 to 4.2 minutes), and the intraoperative blood loss (M(IQR)) was 300 (200) ml (range: 50 to 800 ml).The results of ultrasound examination of hepatic artery on the first day after operation showed that the blood flows of hepatic artery were unobstructed.Postoperative pancreatic fistula occurred in 3 cases, including grade B pancreatic fistula in 2 cases (1 case with abdominal infection) and biochemical leakage in 1 case. Three patients with pancreatic fistula were discharged successfully after continuous abdominal drainage. There was no biliary fistula, abdominal bleeding, abdominal infection, liver abscess or postoperative liver dysfunction. Conclusion: The encasement of the gastroduodenal artery stump by the left outer and left caudate lobes of the liver may be an effective way to prevent bleeding from the rupture of the gastroduodenal artery stump after laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy, which is easy and safe to perform.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Hepatic Artery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Pancreatic Fistula ; Retrospective Studies ; Laparoscopy ; Liver Abscess ; Intraabdominal Infections ; Postoperative Hemorrhage/prevention & control*

Objective. Hepatic abscess is a rare childhood infection with incidence of 1 to 140 per 105 admissions. It has signs and symptoms that mimic other liver diseases. This study determined the clinical, biochemical, microbiologic and imaging features and outcome of children diagnosed with hepatic abscess at a tertiary hospital in Manila.

Method. We conducted a review of medical records of admitted patients aged ?18 years diagnosed with hepatic abscess in a tertiary referral center from 2007-2018. A diagnosis was confirmed if with (1) fever; (2) imaging study of solitary or multiple hepatic focus; AND (3) at least one more sign or symptom. We computed for mean (SD) for continuous variables or n (%) for categorical variables.

Result. We included 40 patients out of 559, 583 pediatric admissions during the study period (0.007%), with a mean age of 8 years (SD 6.5), and 57% of whom were males. Thirty-seven (92%) were probable pyogenic in etiology, while three were tuberculous abscess. The most common signs and symptoms were fever (100%), abdominal mass (31%), abdominal distension (34%) and weight loss (31%). Majority had anemia (63%) and leukocytosis (89%). The most common imaging finding was a solitary mass (58%) with right lobe (80%) involvement. Nine abscess aspirates yielded Staphylococcus aureus (3), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (3), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1) and no growth (2). All patients were medically treated but eight also required percutaneous/surgical drainage. Majority (36) were discharged improved; four were improving but left before treatment completion.

Conclusion. Majority had pyogenic hepatic abscess, presenting with non-specific clinical and laboratory features. Most abscess were solitary and involved the right lobe. Limited abscess aspirates yielded Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Prognosis is favorable with treatment.

No abstract available.
Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Klebsiella ; Liver Abscess ; Liver

liver abscesses in East Asia including the Republic of Korea (ROK). Although gastrointestinal colonization of K. pneumoniae may cross the intestinal barrier to invade the liver, characteristics of gastrointestinal carriage K. pneumoniae of hvKP liver abscess patients in the ROK are not well known.METHODS: Characteristics of K. pneumoniae isolated from stool samples and liver aspirate samples of patients with hvKP liver abscess at a tertiary care hospital in the ROK between 2017 and 2018 were evaluated.RESULTS: Out of 37 patients with hvKP liver abscess, 11 patients were noted to have K. pneumoniae isolated from stool samples and were enrolled for analysis. The median age was 71 years. For hvKP isolates from the liver aspirate samples, the most common serotype was K1 (72.7%) followed by K2 (27.3%). For K. pneumoniae isolates from the stool sample, the majority was non-K1/K2 serotype (72.7%). Among non-K1/K2 serotype isolates, high variability of sequence type (ST; ST15, ST307, ST37, ST273, ST2622, and ST42) with high rate of presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (100.0%) was noted. The concordance rate of the K. pneumoniae isolates between the liver aspirate samples and the stool samples from the primary hvKP liver abscess was low (27.3%).CONCLUSION: This study suggests that significant heterogeneity of K. pneumoniae colonizing intestinal tract of the hvKP liver abscess patients. Further studies involving a larger number of hvKP liver abscess patients with continuing surveillance are needed to define the changing epidemiology and the role of gastrointestinal K. pneumoniae in the hvKP liver abscess patients in the ROK.]]>
beta-Lactamases ; Colon ; Epidemiology ; Far East ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Klebsiella ; Liver Abscess ; Liver ; Pneumonia ; Population Characteristics ; Republic of Korea ; Serogroup ; Tertiary Healthcare

No abstract available.
Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Gallbladder ; Liver Abscess ; Liver

BACKGROUND: Hepatic or liver tuberculosis is an uncommon form of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis which accounts for less than 1% of all tuberculous infections. Furthermore, tuberculous liver abscess (TLA), a subset of hepatic tuberculosis is extremely rare with a prevalence of 0.34% and is usually associated with foci of infection either in the lung, gastrointestinal tract, or an immunocompromised state. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of a 63-year-old immunocompetent male, with no history of prior pulmonary tuberculosis, was initially diagnosed with pyogenic liver abscess and treated with empiric two-week therapy of Metronidazole 500mg/tab 1 tablet TID and Ciprofloxacin 500mg/tab 1 tablet BID. However, there was the persistence of right upper quadrant pain and jaundice despite compliance to therapy, hence admission. Initial antibiotics were re-initiated and subsequently underwent ultrasound-guided liver aspiration draining a thick, light brown abscess. Microbiologic cultures of the abscess turned out negative but AFB smear revealed 1+ on the AFB national TB program scale signifying 10-99 AFB seen/ 100 visual fields in at least 50 fields. Currently, there are no local treatment recommendations specific for isolated tuberculous liver abscess, thus was empirically started on 2HRZE/4HR for six months. On follow-up, the patient had no recurrence of liver abscess via a repeat ultrasound of the whole abdomen. CONCLUSION This is an uncommon presentation of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, an isolated tuberculous liver abscess in an immunocompetent male presenting with persistent right upper abdominal quadrant pain and jaundice. Despite the endemicity of tuberculosis in the Philippines, an isolated tuberculous liver abscess is uncommon or often overlooked. The excellent clinical prognosis of these patients with appropriate therapy necessitates timely diagnosis of this infrequent clinical entity and will prevent further unnecessary surgical interventions.
Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Extrapulmonary ; Liver Abscess

BACKGROUND: This is a rare case of two large urinary bladder stones causing severe infection of the urinary tract affecting the bone marrow due to chronic immune stimulation in a patient with recurrent anemia. Urinary bladder calculi are hard masses of minerals. They develop when the minerals in concentrated urine crystallize. This often happens when the bladder cannot be emptied. Signs and symptoms can vary from severe abdominal pain to blood in the urine. Sometimes, bladder stones don't cause any symptoms. If left untreated, bladder stones may lead to infections and other complications such as hepatic abscess via a hematogenous route. CASE: This is a case of a seventy-eight-year-old man with a history of multiple blood transfusions secondary to anemia of unknown cause. He came into our institution for a second opinion. We worked up the patient, which showed hepatic abscess and two large urinary bladder calculi. Further investigation of the anemia later led to a diagnosis of primary myelofibrosis. DIAGNOSTICS: Ultrasound showed a complex mass on the left hepatic lobe measuring 7.5 cm x 6.0 cm x 2.1 cm consistent with a hepatic abscess. The culture of the abscess was positive for E. coli. Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the lower abdomen showed heterogeneous mass measuring 8.6 cm x 8.7 cm x 9.2 cm within the urinary bladder (see Figure 2). Urinalysis was consistent with a urinary tract infection. Urine culture showed E. coli. Video-assisted cystoscopy showed two urinary bladder calculi, measuring 1.5 cm x 3.2 cm x 4.2 cm weighing 30 grams each (see Figure 3). The calculi were composed of 100% Calcium Oxalate. He underwent a series of diagnostic examinations for anemia including gastroscopy to rule out a bleeding ulcer. Complete blood count showed hemoglobin of 77 g/L and a hematocrit of 0.23. Finally, bone marrow core biopsy was done which is consistent with primary myelofibrosis. CONCLUSION: Urinary bladder stones can be asymptomatic and may present only with vague abdominal pain. It should be one of the considerations in asymptomatic patients with long-standing prostatitis or benign prostatic hyperplasia. Detailed history, thorough physical examinations, and cautious diagnostic tests are mandatory to confirm the diagnosis. A hepatic abscess may arise from infections in the urinary tract such as prostatitis through hematogenous extension. Therefore, it is important to address the origin of the infection to prevent such complications. This is a rare case of an elderly man who presented with chronic anemia and later found out to have large urinary bladder stones that caused severe infection leading to immune stimulation of the bone marrow, hence the diagnosis of primary myelofibrosis by bone marrow biopsy. Such a rare case must be thought of holistically and analytically.
Male ; Prostatitis ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Urinary Bladder Calculi ; Liver Abscess ; Anemia

BACKGROUND: Incisional hernia is a common complication following visceral organ transplantation. Transplant patients are at increased risk of primary and recurrent hernias due to chronic immune suppression and large incisions. We conducted a retrospective review of patients with a history of liver or kidney transplantation who underwent hernia repair to analyze outcomes and hernia recurrence. METHODS: This is a single center, retrospective review of 19 patients who received kidney and/or liver transplantation prior to presenting with an incisional hernia from 2011 to 2017. All hernias were repaired with open component separation technique (CST) with biologic mesh underlay. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 61.0±8.3 years old, with a mean body mass index of 28.4±4.8 kg/m², 15 males (78.9%), and four females (21.1%). There were seven kidney, 11 liver, and one combined liver and kidney transplant patients. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (16 patients, 84.2%), diabetes (9 patients, 47.4%), and tobacco use (8 patients, 42.1%). Complications occurred in six patients (31.6%) including hematoma (1/19), abscess (1/19), seroma (2/19), and hernia recurrence (3/19) at mean follow-up of 28.7±22.8 months. With the exception of two patients with incomplete follow-up, all patients healed at a median time of 27 days. CONCLUSIONS: This small, retrospective series of complex open CST in transplant patients shows acceptable rates of long-term hernia recurrence and healing. By using a multidisciplinary approach for abdominal wall reconstruction, we believe that modified open CST with biologic mesh is a safe and effective technique in the transplant population with complex abdominal hernias.
Abdominal Wall ; Abscess ; Body Mass Index ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Hernia ; Hernia, Abdominal ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Immunosuppression ; Incisional Hernia ; Kidney Transplantation ; Kidney ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver ; Male ; Organ Transplantation ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seroma ; Surgical Mesh ; Tobacco Use ; Transplants

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recurrent pyogenic cholangitis (RPC) is a chronic progressive disease frequently accompanied by cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). This study aimed to investigate the natural course of RPC and identify factors associated with CCA. METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2016, 310 patients diagnosed with RPC at Seoul National University Hospital were included. Complications and management during follow-up were recorded. CCA-free probability was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method, and risk factors associated with CCA were analyzed using log-rank test and Cox’s proportional hazard regression model. RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis was 59.1±10.9 years and mean follow-up duration was 84.0±64.1 months. An intrahepatic duct stone was found in 253 patients (81.6%). Liver atrophy was identified in 185 patients (59.7%) and most commonly located at the left lobe (65.4%). Acute cholangitis, liver abscesses, cirrhotic complications, and CCA developed in 41.3%, 19.4%, 9.7%, and 7.4%, respectively. During follow-up, complete resolution rate after hepatectomy, biliary bypass surgery, and choledocholithotomy with T-tube insertion reached 82.3%, 55.2%, and 42.1%, respectively. None of the patients who maintained complete resolution by the last follow-up day developed CCA. In univariate analysis, female, both-sided intrahepatic duct stones, and liver atrophy at any location were associated with increased risk of CCA. Multivariate analysis revealed that both-sided atrophy significantly increased risk of CCA (hazard ratio, 4.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.48 to 14.09; p=0.008). In 21 patients who developed intrahepatic CCA, tumor was located mostly in the atrophied lobe (p=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: In RPC patients, acute cholangitis, liver abscess, cirrhotic complications, and CCA frequently developed. Both-sided liver atrophy was a significant risk factor for developing CCA.
Atrophy ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangitis ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Abscess ; Methods ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seoul