There was no significant difference in relation to the resolution of fever , abscess size , and hospital stay .
The beneficial effects of PA were seen with medium-to-large ( > 5 cm ) ALA and not with small ( < 5 cm ) ALA .
Percutaneous aspiration as compared with metronidazole alone results in the early resolution of pain and tenderness in patients with medium-to-large ALA .
Percutaneous catheter drainage is better for larger ALA .
The role of metronidazole alone , percutaneous aspiration ( PA ) , and percutaneous catheter drainage ( PCD ) in the treatment of uncomplicated amebic liver abscess ( ALA ) is still unclear .
This systematic review and meta- analysis evaluated the available evidence s with regard to treatment modalities in such patients .
Percutaneous needle aspiration in uncomplicated amebic liver abscess: a randomized trial
Summary Amoebic liver abscess develops in less than 1 % of patients with amoebaisis and metronidazole is the drug of choice for the treatment of amebic liver abscess . Abscesses of less than 5 cm can be treated with metronidazole alone . However , abscesses of more than 10 cm must undergo ultrasound guided percutaneous needle aspiration along with metronidazole . The role of percutaneous needle aspiration in abscesses of 5 to 10 cm is not clear . Fifty-seven patients with a solitary , right lobe , uncomplicated amoebic liverabscess of 5–10 cm were r and omized to receive either metronidazole alone ( control group ; n = 29 ) or ultrasound guided percutaneous needle aspiration along with metronidazole ( intervention group ; n = 28 ) . Although the resolution of pain and fever occurred earlier in the intervention group ( 27 h and 17 h , respectively ) than the control group ( 48 h and 30 h , respectively ) , the difference was not statistically significant ( P = 0.16 and 0.48 , respectively ) . There were no deaths during the study period and treatment failure , complications ( rupture of abscess ) , days to normalization of leukocytosis and duration of hospitalization were similar in both groups . Ultrasound guided percutaneous needle aspiration along with metronidazole was no better than metronidazole alone in the management of uncomplicated , solitary , right lobe amoebic liver abscess of 5 to 10 cm
There was no significant difference in relation to the resolution of fever , abscess size , and hospital stay .
The beneficial effects of PA were seen with medium-to-large ( > 5 cm ) ALA and not with small ( < 5 cm ) ALA .
Percutaneous aspiration as compared with metronidazole alone results in the early resolution of pain and tenderness in patients with medium-to-large ALA .
Percutaneous catheter drainage is better for larger ALA .
The role of metronidazole alone , percutaneous aspiration ( PA ) , and percutaneous catheter drainage ( PCD ) in the treatment of uncomplicated amebic liver abscess ( ALA ) is still unclear .
This systematic review and meta- analysis evaluated the available evidence s with regard to treatment modalities in such patients .