ISSN: 2455-2283
Archives of Clinical Gastroenterology
Research Article       Open Access      Peer-Reviewed

Predictive risk factors for liver abscess rupture: A prospective study of 138 cases

Ndong A1*, Tendeng JN1, Ndoye NA2, Diao ML1, Dieye A3, Diallo AC1, Mansouri MR1, Dia DA1, Nibogora J1, Fall F1, Sagna SA1, Konta B1, Kane K4, Dieng M4, Diedhiou M4, Manyacka PM1 and Konaté I1

1Department of Surgery, Gaston Berger University, Saint Louis, Senegal
2Department of Pediatric Surgery, Albert Royer Hospital, Dakar, Senegal
3Department of Infectious Diseases, Gaston Berger University, Saint Louis, Senegal
4Department of Anesthesiology, Saint-Louis Hospital, Senegal
*Corresponding author: Abdourahmane Ndong, MD, Department of Surgery, Gaston Berger University, Saint Louis, Senegal, Tel: 00221707833155; 00221777464207; E-mail: rahmandong@hotmail.com
DOI: p="sameAs">10.17352/2455-2283.000067
Received: 27 December, 2019 | Accepted: 24 January, 2020 | Published: 25 January, 2020
Keywords: Liver; Abscess; Pyogenic; Amoebic; Rupture; Peritonitis

Cite this as

Ndong A, Tendeng JN, Ndoye NA, Diao ML, Dieye A, et al. (2020) Predictive risk factors for liver abscess rupture: A prospective study of 138 cases. Arch Clin Gastroenterol 6(1): 001-005. DOI: 10.17352/2455-2283.000067

Introduction: Liver abscess is a serious condition due to its complications. The most frequent complication is rupture. Our aim is to determine the predictive risk factors of liver abscess rupture at the Saint Louis Regional Hospital Center.

Material and methods: This is a prospective descriptive and analytical study over the period of 1st January 2016 to 28th February 2019. We included liver abscess records regardless of age. An univariate and then multivariate analysis according to a Cox model allowed us to determine the factors associated with the occurrence of rupture.

Results: We collected 138 cases with 78 cases of amoebic abscess (55.3%) and 60 cases of pyogenic abscess (42.6%). We had 36 cases of rupture (26%), including 29 cases in the peritoneal cavity. The mean age was 28 years ± 18. The sex ratio (M:F) was 3.7. There were 35.5% (n= 49) of patients aged under 15 years. The mean consultation time was 18.8 days ± 4.5. The localization was the right lobe in 76.7%, the left lobe in 9.3% and bi lobar in 14%. The mean diameter of abscesses was 8 cm ± 7.5 (Range: 3.7; 16 cm). The abscesses were unique in 85.5% of cases, and sub-capsular in 15.2% of case. Gas was present in 5.7% of cases. The commonest germ found was Staphylococcus aureus in 14.5% of patients. The predictive risk factors of rupture found after univariate analysis were: diameter (p <0.001), age less than 15 years (OR= 4.3; p<0.001), pyogenic origin of abscesses (OR= 4.3, p <0.001), undernutrition (OR=2.3, p= 0.038), jaundice (OR = 4.5, p = 0.009) , left-lobe localization (OR= 7, p = 0.002), subcapsular localization (OR=8.6, p <0.001); the presence of gas (p <0.001). Multivariate analysis identified 5 variables considered as independent risk factors for rupture: the pyogenic origin (HR= 22.51, p<0.001); age less than 15 years (HR= 2,296, p= 0.049); abscess diameter (HR= 1.411, p= 0.004); left lobe localization (HR= 18.68, p <0.001) and sub-capsular localization (HR= 2.689, p= 0.017).

Conclusion: In our study, predictive risk factor for liver abscess rupture were: pyogenic origin, age less than 15 years, abscess diameter, left-lobe and subcapsular localization. The knowledge of these factors allows early and appropriate treatment to avoid complications.

Introduction

Liver abscess can be defined as a suppurated collection in the hepatic parenchyma that may be of bacterial, parasitic or fungal [1]. Rupture is the most common complication with an estimated incidence of 2.7 to 17% [2]. A high mortality of 75% is reported in case of delayed diagnosis and absence of treatment [3]. Rupture in peritoneal cavity, which is the most frequent localization, is a major surgical emergency [4]. Imaging remains essential in the management of ruptured liver abscesses by allowing positive and topographic diagnosis [1,5]. Surgery, always associated with medical treatment, remains the best option in the case of rupture in peritoneal cavity. However, conservative percutaneous drainage with appropriate antibiotherapy may be sufficient for localized rupture in the pleura, pericardium, or abdominal wall [1,5]. Factors associated with a higher risk of rupture are not well studied in the literature, where studies focus mostly only on pyogenic or amoebic liver abscess. Our aim was to determine predictive risk factors of liver abscess rupture (pyogenic and amoebic) at Saint-Louis Hospital of Senegal.

Patients and methods

This is a prospective descriptive and analytical study from 1st January 2016 to 28th February 2019 involving patients with liver abscess.

Our study was conducted at the Saint-Louis Hospital, in the department of General Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Emergency. We included patients who had a liver abscess assessed by clinical biological and imaging evaluation (Fontan triad, amoebic serology, bacteriology, ultrasound and/or CT scan). Informed consent was obtained from all patients. Cases of abscess complicating liver tumors were excluded. The following parameters were studied:

• Epidemiological aspects (frequency, age, gender)

• Clinical aspects (abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, hepatomegaly)

• Comorbidities (diabetes, alcoholism, cirrhosis, undernutrition)

• Biology (anemia, leukocytosis, hepatic cytolysis, hyperbilirubinemia)

• Etiology (pyogenic or amoebic)

• Characteristics of the abscess based on imaging (diameter, presence of gas, localization, number)

• Treatment and its outcomes (favorable, recurrence, death).

Stastistical analysis

The data analysis was done with the software RStudio version 1.1.447.

Qualitative variables were described in number with their proportion, quantitative variables as mean with their standard deviation.

An univariate analysis between the occurrence of rupture (dependent variable) and the other independent variables was performed. For qualitative variables, the statistical tests used were Pearson’s chi-square or Fischer exact test. For the quantitative variables, the t-test of Student, Mann Whitney or Anova was used according to the conditions of use. The difference was considered significant when p <0.05. The Odds Ratio (OR) with its Confidence Interval (CI) measured the strength of the association.

Variables with p <0.20 in univariate analysis were selected for multivariate analysis. A Cox model (coefficient, standard deviation, p-value, Hazard Ratio (HR) with its confidence interval) allowed us to identify the independent predictive risk factors of liver abscess rupture. The time variable is the duration of evolution of symptoms. The event is the occurrence of rupture.

Results

In our study, we had 138 patients over a 38-month period. The incidence was 43.5 patients per year. The mean age was 28 years ± 18. The sex ratio (M:F) was 3.7. There were 35.5% (n= 49) of patients aged under 15 years. The mean consultation time was 18.8 days ± 4.5. We had 78 cases of amoebic abscess (55.3%) and 60 cases of pyogenic abscess (42.6%). The mean consultation time was 18.8 days ± 4.5. The localization was the right lobe in 76.7%, the left lobe in 9.3% and bi lobar in 14%. The mean diameter of abscesses was 8 cm ± 7.5 (Range: 3.7; 16 cm). The abscesses were unique in 85.5% of cases, and sub-capsular in 15.2% of case. Gas was present in 5.7% of cases. The commonest germ found was Staphylococcus aureus in 14.5% of patients.

Rupture occurred in 36 cases or 26%. The distribution of these patients according to the site of rupture is summarized in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Distribution of patients according to the site of rupture.

The different imaging examinations carried out are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1: Distribution of imaging examinations for patients with liver abscess.
Imaging examinations Number Percentage
Plain abdominal radiography 55 39,8
Chest radiography 50 36,2
Ultra sonography 123 89,1
CT scan 57 41,3

Every patient had medical treatment, associated or not with evacuation of the pus.

Antibiotherapy was empirical with Metronidazole and Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, secondarily it was accorded to the results of the antibiogram.

The different therapeutic options used are shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Distribution of therapeutic options used for patients with liver abscess.
Treatement Number Percentage
Medical treatment alone 63 45,6
Ponction-aspiration 9 6,5
Percutaneaous drainage 34 24,7
Percutaneous drainage + thoracic drainage 1 0,7
Surgery 31 22,5
Total 138 100

The mortality was 1.4% (n= 2). This was a case of severe sepsis and a case of pulmonary embolism from inferior vena cava thrombosis.

Univariate analysis allowed to compare characteristics of the patients in the 2 groups: ruptured and unruptured abscesses (Table 3).

Table 3: Predictive risk factors of liver abscess rupture in univariate analysis
Characteristics of patients Ruptured abscess
n=36(26%)		 Unruptured abscess
n=102(74%)		 p value
Age 22(61,1) 27(26,4) <0,001
Gender 27(75) 82(80,3) 0,495
Pyogenic origin 25(41,7) 35(58,3) <0,001
Clinical findings      
    Right hypochondrium pain 36(100) 98(96,1) 0,573
    Fever 35(97,2) 93(91,2) 0,407
    Jaundice 8(23,3) 6(5,9) 0,009
    Hepatomegaly 12(33,4) 98(96,1) <0,001
Comorbidities      
    Diabetes 0(0) 11(100) 0,0898
    Alcoholism 6(23,1) 20(19,6) 0,698
    Cirrhosis 2(5,5) 6(5,8) 0,942
    Undernutrition 20(55,5) 25(24,5) <0,001
Biology      
    Leukocytosis 34(94,4) 84(82,4) 0,076
    Anemia 26(72,2) 75(73,5) 0,879
    Low TP 7(19,4) 16(15,7) 0,603
    Hepatic Cytolysis 32(88,6) 77(75,5) 0,099
    Hyperbilirubinemia 30(83,3) 70(68,6) 0,089
    Hypoalbuminemia 10(27,8) 16(15,7) 0,111
Imaging findings      
    Diameter (Mean±Standard deviation) 9,1±1,6 7,6±2,8 0,004
    Left lobe 8(22,2) 4(3,9) 0,006
    Sub capsular localization 14(38,8) 7(6,8) <0,001
    Number of abscess 34(94,4) 94(92,1) 0,48
    Gas presence 9(25) 0(0) <0,001

Subsequently we performed a multivariate analysis according to a Cox model.

Finally, the multivariate analysis identified 5 variables considered as independent risk factors for the occurrence of rupture (Table 4).

Table 4: Predictive risk factors of liver abscess rupture in multivariate analysis (Cox model).
Factor Coefficient Standard deviation p value HR IC (95%)
Origin
(0:Amoebic, 1: Pyogenic)		 3,114 0,9276 <0,001 22,51 3,653  138,63
Age
(0:>15years, 1:<15years)		 0,831 0,4238 0,049 2,296 1,001 5,291
Diameter
(cm)		 0,344 0,122 0,004 1,411 1,110    1,792
Localization
(0:Right lobe or bilobar, 1: Left lobe)		 2,928 0,4368 <0,001 18,68 7,936   43,982
Sub-capsular localization
(0 : non, 1 : oui)		 0,989 0,4158 0,017 2,689 1,190    6,075

These factors were:

• The pyogenic origin (HR= 22.51, p <0.001)

• Age less than 15 years (HR= 2.296, p= 0.049)

• The major diameter of the abscess (HR= 1.411, p= 0.004)

• The localization on the left lobe (HR= 18.68, p <0.001)

• The subcapsular localization (HR= 2.689, p= 0.017).

Discussion

Liver abscess can be defined as a suppurative encapsulated collection in the hepatic parenchyma that may be bacterial, parasitic or fungal [6]. Late diagnosis is often associated with the occurrence of complications. Rupture is the most common complication associated with high morbidity and mortality [7,8]. Several factors of rupture have been described in the literature. Their knowledge can lead to propose the best treatment to avoid complication. The risk factors of rupture can guide the therapeutic choice between medical treatment alone and medical treatment associated with percutaneous drainage. Thus, it is important to know the factors that should prompt early drainage. Drainage allows also to speed up the recovery process and reduces the patient’s hospital stay [9,10]. Factors associated with a higher risk of rupture are not well studied in the literature, where studies focus mostly only on pyogenic or amoebic liver abscess. We are going to discuss predictive risk factors found in our study.

Diameter of the abscess

In the majority of series in the literature, diameter is considered a risk factor for rupture. In the Dieng and Gupta series, drainage was only performed for abscesses greater than 10 cm in diameter [11,12]. This is an important element as it is most often possible to choose between performing drainage and medical treatment alone [13]. Theoretically, the larger the size of a liver abscess, the greater the tendency to rupture.

However, the threshold value which increases the risk of rupture is different depending on the amoebic or pyogenic origin of the abscess. The average diameter of abscesses was 8.04 cm in our series, with 25.4% of abscesses with a size greater than 10 cm. In our study, we found the major diameter as rupture factor (HR= 1.411, p= 0.004).

These values ​​vary in the literature. Jun et al. found similar results with pyogenic abscesses greater than 6 cm in diameter (p= 0.002) [14]. Several studies have shown that larger diameter liver abscesses, whether amoebic or pyogenic, yield a significantly greater tendency to rupture [15,16].

On the other hand, the size is not the only parameter to consider for the realization of a drainage. Some authors, such as Dieng et al., routinely perform drainage when the diameter is greater than 10 cm and the abscess is sub-capsular [17]. In the same sense, the size of the abscess can be considered as a predictor of failure of medical treatment.

Age

The mean age of patients with ruptured liver abscess was 21.2 years in our study. We found a statistically significant relationship between rupture and age less than 15 years (HR= 2.296, p= 0.049). Liver abscess in children is a serious but infrequent condition, especially in developed countries. In Senegal, it is not exceptional with a hospital prevalence estimated at 100 cases per 100,000 admissions [18]. The occurrence of rupture is estimated between 3.8% and 6.1% [14,19]. In children, pyogenic abscesses are more common than amoebic abscesses [20].

The age of patients with liver abscess rupture is variable in the literature. This is often due to inclusion criteria that differ depending on the studies [15]. However, the occurrence of rupture is more common in children. This is due to the morphological characteristics of the liver at this age.

Localization of the abscess

The localization of an abscess in the left lobe was considered a significant risk factor for rupture in our study (HR= 18.68, p <0.001). This has also been found in the literature and this is explained by the small volume of the left lobe which makes it more exposed to rupture compared to the right lobe [14]. The same is true for subcapsular localization (HR= 2.689, p= 0.017). However, the localization of liver abscesses is predominant in the right liver, although it is the left-lobe location that constitutes a rupture factor [12]. This is explained by anatomical factors by the greater volume of the right lobe, its preferential vascularization by the right branch of the portal vein (laminar flow to the right lobe) [21].

Pyogenic origin of the abscess

The distinction between pyogenic and amoebic liver abscess is crucial because their treatments and prognoses differ. These are the two most common causes of liver abscess.

Pyogenic abscesses are poorly described in Africa where amoebic abscesses predominate [22]. In our series, we had a statistically significant link between the pyogenic origin of abscesses and the occurrence of rupture (HR= 22.51, p <0.001).

This predominance of pyogenic abscesses among ruptured abscesses in our series (69.4%) was also found in the studies of Desai (70.3%) and Bhatia (74%) [7,23].

This predominance can be explained by the difference in the pathophysiology that underlies the formation of abscess in the hepatic parenchyma.

In fact, the amoebic abscess is caused by the colonization of the liver by the trophozoites of pathogenic strains of Entamoeba histolytica histolytica by the portal way. It is the evolution of intestinal amoebiasis whether it is symptomatic or not. It causes necrosis in the hepatic parenchyma, leading most of the time to a single cavity [24]. This slower evolution explains its lower propensity to rupture.

On the other hand, the abscess with pyogenic occurs during the invasion of the liver by a germ coming through the portal vein or the artery hepatis or is secondary to biliary obstruction. This proliferation causes the destruction of the parenchyma by the formation of a purulent collection [25]. This active infection by the multiplication of bacteria promotes the occurrence of rupture.

Limitations

The main limitation of our study is the fact that it is a hospital-based study. Also, using a Cox model with the duration of symptoms’ evolution as the time variable can influence the results of the analysis. Hence, it may have differences in the estimation of this duration.

Conclusion

Multivariate analysis identified 5 variables considered as independent risk factors of rupture: the pyogenic origin (HR= 22.51, p <0.001), the age lees than 15 years (HR= 2.296, p= 0.049); the diameter of the abscess (HR= 1.411, p= 0.004); left lobe localization (HR= 18.68, p <0.001) and subcapsular localization (HR= 2.689, p= 0.017). However, it needs to be determined whether the combination of other variables allows to have a higher predictive capacity and be more useful in clinical practice. The occurrence of a rupture in the evolution of liver abscess is a factor of mortality. A good knowledge of the predictive factors of rupture can guide therapeutic choice between a medical treatment alone or with percutaneous drainage. This can allow to minimize the frequency of the rupture and others complications, thus reducing the morbidity and the mortality.

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© 2019 Ndong A, et al. This is an open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
 

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