Successful Medical Treatment for Peritonitis Resulting from a Large Pyogenic Liver Abscess Rupture

Korean J Gastroenterol. 2021 Apr 25;77(4):190-193. doi: 10.4166/kjg.2021.005.

Abstract

The rupture of a pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) with peritonitis is a rare occurrence but a surgical emergency with a high mortality rate in the case of gas-forming PLA. Rare cases of ruptured PLA that recovered completely with only medical treatment have been reported. This paper reports a case of a large PLA rupture with peritonitis. In this case, surgical intervention was too risky because of the patient's age and poor general condition. The patient recovered fully with appropriate antibiotic therapy and sufficient percutaneous drainage. Therefore, medical treatment may be considered an alternative option in cases of a ruptured large PLA with peritonitis if surgical intervention is too risky.

Keywords: Klebsiella pneumoniae; Liver abscess; Peritonitis; Rupture; pyogenic.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Drainage
  • Humans
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • Liver Abscess, Pyogenic* / complications
  • Liver Abscess, Pyogenic* / diagnosis
  • Liver Abscess, Pyogenic* / drug therapy
  • Peritonitis* / diagnosis
  • Peritonitis* / drug therapy
  • Peritonitis* / etiology
  • Rupture
  • Rupture, Spontaneous
  • Treatment Outcome