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 .
Sonographically guided percutaneous catheter drainage versus needle aspiration in the management of pyogenic liver abscess.
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of percutaneous catheter drainage ( PCD ) and to compare PCD with percutaneous needle aspiration in the management of liver abscess . SUBJECTS AND METHODS Sixty patients with pyogenic liver abscess were r and omly assigned to two groups in a prospect i ve study . Antibiotics were administered for 10 days , starting the day of the beginning of percutaneous treatment . One group was treated with sonographically guided PCD and the other group with repeated percutaneous needle aspiration . Percutaneous needle aspiration was attempted a maximum of three times . Lack of response to the third aspiration was considered failure of treatment ; these patients were treated with PCD but were not included in the PCD group for analysis . Patient demographics , duration of hospital stay , treatment outcome , and complications were analyzed . RESULTS Percutaneous needle aspiration was successful in 20 ( 67 % ) of the 30 patients after one ( n = 12 ) , two ( n = 7 ) , or three ( n = 1 ) aspirations . PCD was curative in all 30 patients after one ( n = 24 ) or two ( n = 6 ) procedures . All abscesses 50 mm or less in longest diameter were successfully managed , 10 by percutaneous needle aspiration and 12 by PCD . None of patients in the percutaneous needle aspiration group with multiloculated abscesses ( n = 5 ) was successfully treated . Hospital stay did not differ significantly between the groups . There were no complications related to the procedure . CONCLUSION PCD is more effective than percutaneous needle aspiration in the management of liver abscess . Percutaneous needle aspiration can be used as a valid alternative for simple abscesses 50 mm in diameter or smaller
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 .