PubMed · 7648087
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O M Jolobe. 1995. Splenic abscess.. https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs.1800820758
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Intra-abdominal infections are biphasic, synergistic processes with early peritonitis and bacteremia due to aerobes and a later abscess component due to anaerobes. Although Bacteroides fragilis is the most commonly recognized pathogen, other anaerobes, including other members of the B. fragilis-group species, are major components of infection. Anaerobic bacteremia is often associated with an intra-abdominal source. New antimicrobial agents with anaerobic activity are in various stages of development for the therapy of intra-abdominal infections. The in vitro activity and the currently available sparse clinical data are reviewed for a new carbapenem (ertapenem), several fluoroquinolones (trovafloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gemifloxacin), and a desfluoroquinolone (BMS-284756).
Three children, two boys aged 9 and 6 and a 12-year-old girl, had diffuse abdominal complaints, diarrhoea and a (sub)febrile temperature for several days. On admission, they were found to have a perforated inflamed appendix and peritonitis. Following asystole, intra-abdominal abscesses and an enterocutaneous fistula, the oldest boy showed good recovery after a hospital stay of two months; the girl recovered after one month in hospital following a psoas muscle abscess and two episodes of constrictive pericarditis with threatened tamponade. The younger boy was dead on arrival at the hospital. Appendicitis is not always easy to diagnose. An atypical presentation, very often with diarrhoea, can result in diagnostic delay. Early surgical consultation is mandatory in a child with progressive abdominal pain.
Cross-sectional imaging, in particular CT, has become the main method of detecting abdominal collections. Indium-labelled white-cell scintigraphy and gallium scintigraphy are reserved for patients in whom there is a high clinical suspicion of abdominal sepsis but CT has not revealed a source of sepsis. Scintigraphy is also used in patients with suspected vascular graft infections or suspected infected hip prostheses. Percutaneous abscess drainage (PAD) has revolutionised the treatment of abdominal abscesses over the past 20 years, with repeat laparotomy for postoperative abscesses becoming a rare event. Ultrasound or CT can be used to guide PAD. Choosing an access route that does not cross intervening organs is of crucial importance to the safe performance of PAD. The Trocar or Seldinger techniques can be used with equal success. The cavity should be aspirated until dry and irrigated with saline. Repeat imaging after drainage is helpful to detect any undrained locules. PAD endpoints include patient defervescence, reduction in white blood cell count and catheter drainage of less than 10 ml per day. Details regarding PAD in specific abdominal regions are discussed. Success rates for PAD are high (close to 90%) in most abdominal organs. Slightly lower success rates are seen with PAD of pancreatic abscesses and abscesses associated with fistulas (60-85% success rates). Complication rates lie between 0% and 10%. Complications can be minimised by ensuring that the patient has broad spectrum antibiotic coverage before drainage, by carefully planning the access route and by ensuring diligent post-procedure care by radiology staff.