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A patient in her 90s with rheumatoid arthritis was admitted to the hospital. She was brought to the emergency department with a complaint of a fever and diagnosed with a urinary tract infection on admission, and antimicrobial therapy was started. On day 8 of admission, abdominal ultrasonography revealed a right subphrenic abscess due to cholecystitis with perforation. The patient consulted with the Department of Surgery, but drainage was deemed difficult due to the anatomical location of the gallbladder, and conservative treatment with antibiotics was continued. After two months of intravenous antimicrobial therapy, the abscess shrank, and the patient was discharged from the hospital after switching to oral antimicrobial therapy. At a follow-up visit two weeks after discharge, the abscess was confirmed to have disappeared, the oral antimicrobial therapy was discontinued, with no abscess recurrence noted. The principle of treatment for subphrenic abscess is the administration of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents that cover enterobacteria and anaerobes, and drainage at appropriate times. Indeed, drainage is performed in most of the reported cases of subphrenic abscesses. However, in very elderly patients or those in whom puncture is difficult, conservative treatment while carefully checking imaging findings and other potentially involved factors may be an option.

BACKGROUND Perforated gastric cancer accounts for less than 1% of patients who present with an acute abdomen and for up to 16% of all gastric perforations. A two-stage laparoscopic procedure may be the therapeutic strategy of choice in selected patients, and adjuvant hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can reduce the incidence of peritoneal recurrence. A rare case of subphrenic abscess and gastric perforation due to carcinoma of the gastric fundus, followed by two-stage gastrectomy and adjuvant HIPEC is presented. CASE REPORT A 65-year old man presented with a left subphrenic abscess secondary to perforated gastric carcinoma. Laparoscopic drainage of the abscess was performed. Ten days later, following recovery from sepsis, the patient underwent total laparoscopic gastrectomy, and adjuvant HIPEC followed by a Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy. Histopathology showed an intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma. The tumor was staged as pT4aN0. The postoperative course was uneventful except for transient atrial fibrillation. The patient was discharged home on postoperative day 11. Systemic adjuvant chemotherapy was begun one month later. At six-month follow-up, the patient had no discomfort on eating or any other symptoms. CONCLUSIONS In this case, a two-stage laparoscopic treatment for perforated gastric carcinoma combined with adjuvant HIPEC was feasible and safe and may be considered at the time of laparoscopic gastrectomy in selected patients with perforated gastric carcinoma.

Introduction: CT guided percutaneous drainage is currently the gold standard in the treatment of abdominal fluid collections, having substituted open surgical drainage in many cases. It burdens the patient less than surgical drainage. Its efficiency is comparable to standard surgical drainage when properly indicated. It is readily available even in smaller hospitals. However, this method can also have many complications, which originate most often from an improperly targeted drainage catheter., Case Report: The authors describe a case report of a 55 years old man with a right-sided subphrenic abscess. The right ventricle of the heart was perforated during a CT guided percutaneous drainage. The bleeding was minimal, but the patient suffered a profound septic shock as a result of massive bacteremia during direct communication of the contents of the abscess cavity with blood circulation. He was operated immediately. The right ventricle was sutured, and the subphrenic abscess was drained. There were no complications after the operation, and the patient was discharged on day 17 after the surgery., Conclusion: The CT guided drainage of an abdominal abscess or a fluid collection in a risk area should be preferably done in hospitals whose therapeutic portfolio also includes the handling of serious complications., Key Words: heart injury drainage.

A 65-year-old male visited our hospital because of fever and difficulty in walking. He was suffering from left-sided hypochondrial pain for a month. Laboratory tests performed on admission revealed a white blood cell count of 1700/μl and C-reactive protein level of 9.51mg/dl, which were suggestive of severe inflammation. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a subphrenic abscess around the spleen, which we considered to be caused by gastric penetration into the gastrosplenic ligament. Upper esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a gastric ulcer together with a fistula that connected to the left subphrenic abscess. We thus performed endoscopic transgastric drainage through the fistula. Antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor were administered, and drainage was continued. The patient's clinical and inflammatory symptoms subsequently improved. We thus consider that endoscopic transgastric drainage is an appropriate treatment option for subphrenic abscesses.

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors and clinical outcomes in patients with spontaneous rupture of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA)., Methods: A total of 602 patients diagnosed with PLA between January 2004 and July 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 23 patients experienced a spontaneous rupture of liver abscess (SRLA)., Results: The prevalence of SRLA was 3.8%. Using multivariate analysis, liver cirrhosis (OR 4.651, P = 0.009), gas-forming abscesses (OR 3.649, P = 0.026), abscess ≥6 cm in diameter (OR 10.989, P = 0.002) and other septic metastases (OR 1.710, P = 0.047) were risk factors for SRLA. Regarding the site of rupture, 20 (87.0%) patients had a localized rupture, specifically, subphrenic abscess in 3 (13.0%), peri-hepatic abscess in 10 (43.5%), localized peritoneal abscess in 3 (13.0%) and empyema in 4 (17.5%); and the other 3 (13%) had peritonitis. Ruptures resulting in peritonitis require urgent surgery, whereas localized ruptures were managed with surgical or percutaneous drainage in addition to appropriate antibiotics. The in-hospital mortality rate of SRLA was 4.3%., Conclusion: Patients with cirrhosis, having abscess ≥6 cm in diameter, gas-forming abscesses and other septic metastases in those with PLA should be monitored closely and may need early intervention for SRLA., (© 2014 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)

Objective: The objective of our study was to test the hypothesis that an intercostal approach to imaging-guided percutaneous subdiaphragmatic abscess drainage is as safe as a subcostal approach., Materials and Methods: A cohort of 258 consecutive patients with one or more subdiaphragmatic abscesses referred for imaging-guided (CT or ultrasound) percutaneous drainage was identified. Demographic characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between patients who underwent drainage catheter placement via an intercostal approach versus those who underwent drainage catheter placement via a subcostal approach., Results: Percutaneous drainage was performed for 441 abscesses in 258 patients in 409 separate procedures (214 via an intercostal approach, 186 by a subcostal approach, and nine by a combined approach). The total number of pleural complications was significantly higher in the intercostal group (56/214 [26.2%]) than the subcostal group (15/186 [8.1%]; p < 0.001). These complications included a significantly higher pneumothorax rate in the intercostal group than the subcostal group (15/214 [7.0%] vs 0/186 [0%], respectively; p < 0.01) and a higher incidence of new or increased pleural effusions (38/214 [17.8%] vs 14/186 [7.5%]; p < 0.01). The incidence of empyema was low and similar between the two groups (intercostal vs subcostal, 3/214 [1.4%] vs 1/186 [0.5%]; p = 0.63). A few of the complications in the patients who underwent an intercostal-approach drainage were clinically significant. Four of the 15 pneumothoraces required thoracostomy tubes and eight of 38 (21.1%) pleural effusions required thoracentesis, none of which was considered infected., Conclusion: An intercostal approach for imaging-guided percutaneous drainage is associated with a higher risk of pleural complications; however, most of these complications are minor and should not preclude use of the intercostal approach.

A 79-year-old woman with a fistula between a subphrenic abscess and the fundus of the stomach was successfully treated with n-Butyl-2-Cyanoacrylate. Conservative management had failed. Clinical presentation, treatment progress and imaging findings by computed tomography scan, ultrasound, gastroscopy and fluoroscopy are presented, along with a brief review of the relevant literature.

A 23-year-old man with post-traumatic hepatic artery pseudo-aneurysm and subphrenic liver abscess was admitted. He underwent coil embolization of hepatic artery pseudo-aneurysm. The pseudo-aneurysm was successfully obstructed and subphrenic liver abscess was controlled. Super-selective trans-catheter coil embolization may represent an effective treatment for hepatic artery pseudo-aneurysm combined with subphrenic liver abscess in the absence of other therapeutic alternatives.

A 62-year-old lady presented with fever and abdominal pain. History revealed cholecystectomy two years ago due to cholecystolithiasis, complicated by perforation of the common bile duct, leading to hepaticojejunostomy, jejunocholedochostomy, endoscopic retrograde insertion of two plastic stents and percutaneous drainage of bilioma. The patient was lost to follow-up until she presented two years later in the emergency room. ERC was performed. Both stents were occluded. After extraction dirty bile popped out. Injection of contrast medium showed stones in the remaining common bile duct and dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts and the interposed jejunum. After stone extraction a subphrenic intrahepatic fluid collection became visible when injecting contrast medium in the intrahepatic bile ducts. Pus was aspirated. The abscess was drained with a nasobiliary tube. Antibiotics were given. Temperature and CRP normalized. The nasobiliary tube was removed when the biliary fluid was clear. Recovery was uneventful with complete resolution of symptoms.

The efficiency of intermittent and continuous hemofiltration was comparatively evaluated in the complex treatment of 27 patients having multiple organ dysfunction along with pyoseptic complications of abdominal diseases. Based on the study of a broad spectrum of markers of toxicosis and the severity of organ dysfunction, it was concluded that the efficiency of the procedure should be objectively evaluated to optimize the time of its performance.

Abscess formation during the course of acute brucellosis is a rare event. A case of subphrenic abscess, the first to our knowledge, is described. A 49 years-old male patient with fever and a mild increase in ALT and gamma-GT was referred to our Institution. Routine blood exams tested negative and antibodies against Brucella spp. Were also negative. CT examination of abdomen was normal. After 8 days, US examination showed a liquid area under the right diaphragma and US-guided puncture revealed an abscess; pus culture showed the presence of Brucella melitensis. Seven days later theWright reaction became positive. After percutaneous catheter drainage of the abscess, fever disappeared and US follow-up showed reconstitution of subphrenic space. Our study confirm that sonography is a valid method to demonstrate abdominal abscess and that US-guided percutaneous puncture and drainage are useful tools in diagnosis and treatment of fluid abdominal collections

Case reports of transdiaphragmatic fistulas connecting subphrenic collections and empyemas are uncommon. We report the rare complication of a fistulous connection between a subphrenic collection and the bronchial tree.

A case of an hepatic abscess that developed after percutaneous transhepatic drainage of a subphrenic abscess is presented. The location of the abscess immediately along the tract of the drainage catheter and the similar organisms recovered from bacteriologic culture suggest that the abscess was related to direct contamination along the tract of the drainage catheter. The potential for abscess formation within the liver should be considered in the choice of access route for percutaneous drainage of retroabdominal abscesses. It may be preferable to avoid transhepatic drainage in patients in whom it is anticipated that the catheter drainage will require considerable length of time.

The authors present case of 60 years old male with subphrenic abscess. The patient had been threefold open abdomen, and cause of subphrenic abscess remain unknown. The authors think, that best treatment are: transperitoneal lavage drainage and antibiotic therapy.

Purpose: To test the practicality of MRT-aided drainage using an open low-field magnet and to report on the early clinical results., Methods: So far seven patients have been treated (four subphrenic abscesses, two psoas abscesses and one pancreatic pseudocyst). The planning of the approach and catheter insertion were carried out under MRT control (Magnetom Open, 0.2 T). Subsequent treatment was controlled by CT and fluoroscopy. Initial puncture was carried out with a non-magnetic 18 gauge Chiba needle. The drainage catheter was introduced by Seldinger's technique in six cases and with a trocar in one patient., Results: In all seven patients drainage could be started successfully. The design of the magnet and coils permitted adequate accessibility of the patient. There were no problems in visualising the puncture needle. Controlling the position of the catheter by MRT was, however, difficult., Conclusion: The first two steps in abscess drainage (planning the approach and inserting the catheter) can be carried out under MRT control. For further catheter control and observing the course of the disease we presently prefer CT or fluoroscopy.

One hundred consecutive patients requiring elective cholecystectomy in one surgeon's practice were booked as outpatients between April 1994, and July 1995. Two patients had massive adhesions and 18 had acute disease. Outpatient surgery was successful for 94 patients, who spent an average of less than 6 h in hospital. Six patients required postoperative admission, four because of conversion and two for other causes. There were three readmissions, unrelated to outpatient status: one to treat a wound infection, one to drain a subphrenic abscess, and one to repair an umbilical hernia. Complications were one subphrenic abscess, one case of significant atelectasis, and, at the umbilical incision seven wound infections, one hematoma and one postoperative hernia. Advanced age and increased comorbidity correlated significantly with the need for hospital admission, but were not contraindications, either alone or in combination, to outpatient surgery. Patient satisfaction was high.

Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become a safe and effective alternative for open cholecystectomy as treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis, it may be followed by different complications. Two cases are presented with unusual complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. One patient was readmitted 11 days after laparoscopic cholecystectomy with severe upper abdominal pain and a false aneurysm of a branch of the right hepatic artery. The other patient developed a recurrent subphrenic abscess 10 months after the initial operation, which eventually was shown to be caused by a lost gallstone. Although these are rare complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, they should be recognized as potential causes of recurrent abdominal pain, even months after the procedure.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of transpleural and extrapleural approaches for draining left subphrenic abscesses in patients who have had splenectomy., Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients who had percutaneous catheter drainage (28 drainages) of postsplenectomy fluid collections were studied. Twenty drainages were transpleural and eight were extrapleural. In eight of the 20 transpleural drainages, it was elected to place the catheter transpleurally. In the remaining 12 patients, catheter drainage was judged to be transpleural on review, despite efforts to use an extrapleural approach., Results: Sixteen of 18 patients who had transpleural percutaneous drainage and six of seven patients who had true extrapleural (subcostal) percutaneous drainage were cured by catheter drainage requiring no further intervention. The mean number of days of drainage was not significantly different (p > .05) for the group drained transpleurally (mean, 18 days; range, 1-90 days) versus the group drained extrapleurally (mean, 20 days; range, 6-43 days). Complications (pneumothorax) requiring treatment were seen in two patients in whom a transpleural approach was used and in none of the patients in whom an extrapleural approach was used. Complications that did not require treatment were seen in four further patients drained transpleurally. These were inadvertent placement of catheter into pleural space (two patients) and pneumothorax not requiring treatment (two patients). No patient had an empyema., Conclusion: Transpleural drainage of left subphrenic collections occurring after splenectomy is associated with a slightly increased complication rate but has a success rate similar to that of extrapleural drainage.

The case of recurrent subphrenic abscess with the jejunal fistula after stomach resection in 41-years old male is presented. In microbiological examination E. coli antibiotic-resisted was discovered. The bacteriophages were prepared and administered to the patient. The operation was performed without any antibiotics. During the whole stay at hospital the patient had got bacteriophages. He left the hospital in 33rd day of stay without any abscesses.

Percutaneous draining of purulent cavities in the liver is an effective method for the treatment of pyogenic diseases of the organ. The traditional method, however, has some shortcomings which often lead to serious complications (intraperitoneal hemorrhage, escape of bile, breaking away of the catheter, hypostatic pneumonia, etc). The work deals with the results of treatment of 32 patients with purulent diseases of the liver. Abscess of the liver was found in 8 patients, subdiaphragmatic abscess in 6, suppurating hydatid cyst in 8, nonparasitic cyst in 5 patients. In 18 patients the traditional method of draining was applied, in 14 patients draining was conducted by a method suggested by the authors. Complications occurred in 11 patients treated by the traditional method, whereas in patients treated by the improved method the postoperative course was uneventful, no complications were encountered. Thus, the improved method for draining purulent cavities in the liver reduces significantly the incidence of postoperative complications and improves the results of treatment.

Suture line leaks after esophageal or gastric surgery are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. We report a new approach to the management of this problem, which has been used successfully in the treatment of nine patients with such leaks who were treated at or referred to our unit. The suture line defect is first visualized by endoscopy, after which a sump nasogastric tube is advanced down the esophagus and out through the defect into the abscess cavity. The tubes are irrigated intermittently to achieve patency and maintained with continuous suction. Separate pleural or subphrenic collections are drained by conventional techniques. After the injection of contrast down the tube, serial radiologic studies are used to monitor progress and to guide the slow withdrawal of the tube as the cavity collapses.

A new technique of fistuloscopy for evaluation and treatment of postoperative intra-abdominal abscesses is described which was used in 8 patients in whom drainage of abscesses following surgery was insufficient. A cholangiofiberscope was introduced into the fistula canal produced by the postoperative drainage. Fistuloscopy was combined with fistulography in all cases to delineate the extent of the inflammatory process. The guidewire was then placed under visual control through the endoscope followed by re-introduction of the drainage tube until a position most effective for pus drainage was achieved. Following this procedure, fever resolved in all 8 patients. Fistuloscopy is recommended to achieve sufficient drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses in those cases where percutaneous ultrasound- or CT-guided drainage fails to lead to significant clinical improvement.

The authors report their experience with 19 percutaneous drainages of abdominal abscesses in 19 patients. Six collections were in the subphrenic spaces, 6 in the liver, 1 in the infracolic space, 2 in the psoas muscle, 3 within the abdominal wall, and 1 in the pararenal space. Their etiology was abdominal surgery in 10 patients, biliary obstruction in 1, and trauma in 2; in the extant patients a hematogenous infection was supposed. The procedures were performed under combined US and fluoroscopic guidance, following Seldinger technique in all but two cases. Van Sonnenberg double-lumen sump catheter was successfully employed in all cases. After a review of the technique the authors discuss the advantages of US-fluoroscopic over CT guidance. The latter is preferred if the collection is not well demonstrated by US and in the cases where a posterior approach is needed. The economic advantages of US-fluoroscopic over CT guidance are also stressed.

The aim of this study was to show the result obtained by ultrasound-- or CT--guided puncture, possibly associated with transcutaneous drainage, for the treatment of hepatic and perihepatic abscesses. Preoperative imaging guides this treatment. It may reveal cavities as small as 1.5 cm in diameter. This nonsurgical treatment is based on single or multiple punctures, possibly followed by a long percutaneous drainage. The ideal indication is isolate liver abscesses located near the surface, as well as all juxtahepatic suppurative collections. Our experience is based on 73 patients, 32 of them presenting with an intrahepatic abscesses and 41 with a subphrenic or juxtahepatic abscess. For intrahepatic abscesses, healing was obtained with the surgical treatment in 75.3% of all cases: with a single puncture in 5 cases, two or more punctures in 4, and transcutaneous drainage in 11. Out of the 34 cases of perihepatic abscesses that underwent nonsurgical treatment, surgery was avoided in 25 cases, ie. 73.5% of all. Four of them were treated with a single puncture, 3 with repeated puncture, and 18 with transcutaneous drainage. The success of this procedure depends both on the indication and, most importantly, on the accurate application of the procedure.

We present a case of a bronchobiliary fistula initially detected by hepatobiliary scintigraphy. The patient developed bilioptysis 18 mo after undergoing a right hepatic lobectomy and resection of the common bile duct for cholangiocarcinoma. The procedure was complicated by the development of a subphrenic abscess that required percutaneous biliary drainage.

Technological advances currently allow safe percutaneous puncture of certain intra-abdominal collections, provided the indications and technical precision are imperatively respected. Our aim is to draw attention to success factors and the limits of this procedure.

Percutaneous drainage has been widely accepted as the preferred treatment for abdominal abscess. Indications have been clarified recently and the absence of a secure route is the only absolute contraindication. We performed this procedure in 65 patients with abdominal abscess at different locations: liver 27, subphrenic 33, lesser cavity 3 and perirenal 3. Overall success rate was 85%, with 89% for liver and 88% for the subphrenic location. Six patients died of multisystemic failure even though the abscess was properly drained. Four patients were operated on for persistent abscess. A pancreatic fistula was shown in 1 and a peritoneal hydatid cyst was the original lesion in the other. Pneumothorax occurred in 5 patients requiring drainage in 2. Two other patients developed hydro-pneumothorax and empyema, that was drained. The overall complication rate was 14%. Thus, percutaneous drainage is a simple and highly successful treatment for abdominal abscess. Results are influenced by the accuracy of diagnosis and a proper selection of patients.

From 1985 to 1989, a total of 598 gastric cancer patients underwent gastrectomies in the First Department of Surgery at Kurume University School of Medicine. Of these, 24 patients (4.0%) incurred a subphrenic abscess, postoperatively. Subphrenic abscesses occurred most frequently after total gastrectomies at a rate of 17 of 197 (8.8%) cases. Leaking gastrointestinal anastomoses were responsible for 12 of the 17 (70.5%) abscesses. In 384 cases of distal gastrectomy, only 6 (1.6%) cases with a subphrenic abscess occurred, and only 3 were due to anastomotic leakage. Among the total of 24 cases with subphrenic abscesses, 16 (67%) were related to an anastomotic leakage including a pancreatic fistula, while the other 8 (33%) showed no leakage by contrast roentgenography. When chest roentgenography shows a pleural effusion and an elevation of the diaphragm, then a subphrenic abscess must be suspected. The majority of patients were treated by replacing the intraabdominal drainage catheter inserted during the gastrectomy with a larger catheter. The overall operative mortality rate was 4.1% due to a death in only one (MOF) patient.

The results of percutaneous drainage of abdominal abscesses in 136 patients are analyzed, revealing a failure rate of 23% (31 patients). The mortality rate was 1.4% (two patients); the rate of serious complications was 5% (seven patients). Failure rate was lowest in critically ill patients having palliative drainage only (12%), emphasizing the importance of immediate drainage to stabilize such patients. The low mortality rate is also attributed to prompt palliative drainage. Technical errors were most commonly responsible for failure of procedures (14%), especially failure to recognize and respond to loculation or subseptation, premature withdrawal of drains (12 patients), and inappropriate approach to the abscess (nine patients). Assignment of patients to a clinical interventional radiology service for the duration of this treatment may greatly facilitate management.

60 persons with a chest trauma were treated during the past years. In a number of cases the injuries and the resulting complications were of so serious a nature that their repair was attended by the greatest difficulties. The most serious and initially unrecognized complications comprised: 1) tracheo-bronchial defects, partly of traumatic origin and partly arising during intensive care; 2) failure to detect rupture of the diaphragm with displacement of visceral organs into the thoracic cavity; 3) insufficient evacuation of blood or fluid from the pleural cavity; 4) failure to diagnose irreparable damage to part of the lungs. Means to repair these lesions are reviewed; the necessity for long-term observation of these cases is emphasized.

Twelve patients with intra-abdominal or mediastinal abscesses were treated by percutaneous drainage. Three abscesses were subphrenic, three were adjacent to enteric leaks, two were intrahepatic, two were pancreatic pseudocysts, one was a pancreatic abscess extending to the lesser sac, and one was an infected adrenal hematoma. All 12 lesions were entered percutaneously using fluoroscopic guidance without traumatizing the adjacent normal tissue. Localization was frequently aided by computed tomography. Various catheters were positioned using basic angiographic techniques. Following drainage all patients had a favorable clinical response. Seven of the 12 patients required no surgical management. Careful radiologic follow-up and frequent changing of catheters was necessary in six of the patients. Two patients benefited from the addition of auxiliary drains. Five of the 12 patients were electively operated upon because of incomplete drainage of the abscess cavity. Causes of failure were: persistent anastomotic leak (two patients), sequestered, loculated extension of abscess cavity (two patients), or necrotic, viscous hepatic tissue requiring removal at laparotomy (one patient).

We performed computed body tomography and ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheter drainage in 45 cases of abdominal abscess. Evacuation of the cavity was achieved in 40 cases (89%), eliminating the need for surgery in 34 patients. There were six recurrent abscesses, all due to fistulous communications or recurrent infected tumor. Major complications were a lacerated mesenteric vessel and a small-bowel fistula. Drainage catheters were removed an average of seven days after insertion. In many cases, guided percutaneous radiological drainage is an effective alternative to operative therapy, especially in severely ill patients.

Infectious complications remain an important source of postoperative morbidity and mortality. The prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these problems can be extremely taxing, and skillful clinical judgment and surgery can frequently make the difference between survival or death.

Since 1980, we have treated 23 abscesses in 21 pediatric patients by percutaneous needle aspiration or catheter drainage or both. Percutaneous management has been completely successful in 16 of 21 patients and 18 of the 23 abscesses. In two patients, abscess drainage was technically successful and improved the patient's condition, but surgery was later required because of other complicating conditions. There were three failures of percutaneous aspiration or catheter drainage. Three serious complications occurred, but there was no mortality. Percutaneous management of abscesses is often a safe and effective procedure in pyogenic liver and postoperative abscesses.

Forty subphrenic abscesses were drained percutaneously in 37 patients. These abscesses were subsequent to abdominal surgery (28 patients), biliary obstruction and/or fistula (six patients), trauma (two patients) or acute pancreatitis (one patient). The procedures were usually monitored by duplex sonography and fluoroscopy (35 out of 40 cases), with an angled subcostal approach to the subphrenic space in over 85% of the cases. Forty-three drainage catheters were inserted using the Seldinger method; 37 (86%) had a size of 12 F or more, 21 were 16 F in size. Only two out of 43 catheters were double-lumen sump drains. The clinical condition improved after insertion of the catheter in all 37 patients. Definitive successful drainage, defined as hospital discharge without complementary surgery, was achieved in 32 patients (87%), without major complications. A temporizing effect was obtained in three additional patients (8%) who underwent curative surgery for the underlying process after complete drainage of the abscess. Two patients died from multiple organ failure before their abscess healed. Considerations for successful drainage of subphrenic abscesses include a good knowledge of the subphrenic space anatomy, the use of large-bore drainage catheters and the recognition and correct management of underlying enteric, biliary or pancreatic fistulas.

Septic complications following total gastrectomy usually require relaparotomy, which is associated with a high operative mortality. Due to the improvement of percutaneous drainage of abdominal abscesses we prefer this therapy for septic complications after total gastrectomy. Among 141 total gastrectomies, 14 patients developed subphrenic abscesses. While 2 patients required relaparotomy, 12 had interventional therapy by sonographically guided drainage and insertion of a pigtail catheter. The catheters were irrigated daily, and the patients received systemic antibiotics. Complete resolution of the abscess cavity was achieved, even in 1 case with simultaneous duodenal stump insufficiency without increasing morbidity. The hospital stay was prolonged for an average of 20 days by this "conservative" treatment. The management of septic complications following total gastrectomy with interventional techniques may reduce the number of operative reinterventions. The indication for such a therapy, however, needs to be evaluated on an individual basis.