ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment to improve the prognosis of liver abscess after liver transplantation.
MethodsEight cases of liver abscess after liver transplantation who were treated in our hospital from Apr. 1999 to Sep. 2013 were retrospectively analyzed, including clinical presentation, predisposing factors, treatment, and prognosis of outcomes.
ResultsIn our group, the incidence of liver abscess after liver transplantation was 2.07% (8/387), and main predisposing factors included biliary complications, hepatic artery complications, and so on. The treatments included sensitive antibiotics therapy, reducing or deactivating immunosuppressant, aspiration and drainage of abscess by the ultrasound guiding, balloon valvuloplasty for biliary stenosis, percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage (PTCD), indwelling biliary stents, endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD), and hepatic resection. All of the 8 cases were followed-up for 3-59 months (median of 23 months), during the follow-up period, 4 cases were cured, 1 case improved, and 3 cases died.
ConclusionsHepatic arterial and biliary complications are the most common predisposing factors for liver abscess after liver transplantation. Active prevention and treatment of biliary and hepatic arterial complications after liver transplantation are the key to reduce the occurrence of liver abscess and improve the prognosis of it.
