Comparison of Percutaneous vs. Laparoscopic Drainage for Ruptured Liver Abscess: A Case Analysis

Pradipta Kishore  Khuntia; Sudhansu Sekhar  Mohanty; Debendra Kumar  Hota

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i9.1370

Authors

Pradipta Kishore Khuntia Associate Professor, Department of General Surgery, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Sudhansu Sekhar Mohanty Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Debendra Kumar Hota Assistant Professor, Department of General Surgery, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i9.1370

Keywords:

Ruptured liver abscess, Percutaneous drainage, Laparoscopic drainage, Minimally invasive techniques, Clinical outcomes

Abstract

Background: Ruptured liver abscesses pose a significant clinical challenge due to their potential for severe complications, including peritonitis and sepsis. Advances in minimally invasive techniques such as percutaneous and laparoscopic drainage have offered alternatives to traditional open surgical drainage, but the optimal approach remains debated. This study aims to compare the efficacy, safety, and recovery outcomes of percutaneous drainage versus laparoscopic drainage in the management of ruptured liver abscesses.

Methods: Two groups of patients were developed: one for percutaneous drainage (n = 60) and another for laparoscopic drainage (n = 60). Analyses were conducted on baseline variables, procedural outcomes, complication rates, and clinical outcomes. The statistical analysis was done with SPSS 23.0.

Results: Percutaneous drainage was associated with a significantly shorter procedure duration (45.3 ± 12.5 minutes vs. 73.8 ± 15.7 minutes, p < 0.001) and lower complication rate (13.3% vs. 30.0%, p = 0.03) compared to laparoscopic drainage. Additionally, patients in the percutaneous group experienced shorter hospital stays (7.2 ± 2.5 days vs. 10.3 ± 3.1 days, p < 0.001) and faster resolution of symptoms (5.1 ± 1.8 days vs. 7.8 ± 2.2 days, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the mortality rate between the two groups (3.3% vs. 5.0%, p = 0.56).

Conclusion: Percutaneous drainage demonstrates advantages over laparoscopic drainage in terms of shorter procedure duration, lower complication rates, and faster recovery for patients with ruptured liver abscesses. However, the slightly higher initial success rate of laparoscopic drainage suggests that both methods are viable, with the choice of procedure depending on individual patient factors and clinical judgment.

Recommendations: Future prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and explore long-term outcomes associated with each drainage method. Clinicians should consider patient-specific factors when selecting the appropriate drainage technique for ruptured liver abscesses.