Pyogenic liver abscesses in 106 adult patients at The New York Hospital were reviewed to define optimum treatment. Mortality in the surgically treated patients was 26% (17/65), while those treated nonsurgically had a fatality rate of 95% (39/41). Multiple abscesses treated surgically had a surprisingly low mortality of 29% (5/17). Modern noninvasive tests are highly sensitive in diagnosing liver lesions greater than 2 cm. Difficulty remains in identifying small hepatic abscesses and differentiating large abscesses from tumor. Most liver abscesses have an identifiable source outside the liver. The most common source (31%) was cholangitis secondary to extrahepatic biliary obstruction. Multiple abscesses, mixed organisms, hyperbilirubinemia, and abscess complications are all associated with a significantly increased mortality. However, the lethality of the primary disease process was the most important factor determining survival. Most patients who have the underlying pathogenesis of the abscess controlled will survive surgical treatment. Transperitoneal surgical drainage and antibiotics remain the mainstay of treatment. Percutaneous drainage is recommended for high risk patients only.

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