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 .
Management of large amoebic liver abscess--a comparative study of needle aspiration and catheter drainage.
Amoebiasis in endemic in the tropical countries with amoebic liver abscesses being a common complication . Different modalities of treatment of amoebic liver abscess are conservative ( medical management ) , percutaneous needle aspiration , percutaneous catheter drainage , surgical drainage and endoscopic drainage . This study was carried out to compare the efficacy , safety and outcome of needle aspiration comparing with percutaneous catheter drainage of large ( > or = 5 cm diameter ) amoebic liver abscesses . This was a prospect i ve study carried over a period of two years ( 2006 - 2008 ) at the general surgery department of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital , Kolkata . A total of 45 patients were included in this study . All of them had amoebic liver abscess with diameter of abscess cavity > or = 5 cm . They were divided into two groups . Group A included 22 patients and they were treated with needle aspiration . Group B included 23 patients and they were treated by catheter drainage . Improvement in clinical features , liver function tests , ultrasonic evidence of decrease in the size of abscess cavity was considered as criteria for successful treatment . The sex ratio and the age incidence in the two groups were similar . In about 80 % patients the right lobe was affected , in about 18 % the left lobe was affected and in rest the abscess involved both lobes . Needle aspiration was successful in 15 ( 68.2 % ) and catheter drainage was successful in 23 patients ( 100 % ) . The mean hospital stay of patients treated with needle aspiration was more than those treated with catheter drainage . The mean time in days taken for 50 % decrease in the size of abscess cavity was significantly greater in group treated with needle aspiration than in those treated with catheter drainage ( 9 days versus 4 days ) . It is concluded that percutaneous catheter drainage is more effective in management of large amoebic liver abscess than needle aspiration
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 .