Safety And Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Drainage of Liver Abscess: An Observational Study

Background: Liver abscess is a serious intra-abdominal infection, most commonly of pyogenic or amoebic origin. Conventional management with intravenous antibiotics alone is often insufficient in large or complicated abscesses. Ultrasound (USG)-guided percutaneous drainage has emerged as a minimally invasive and effective alternative to surgical intervention. The objective of study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of USG-guided drainage of liver abscess in terms of clinical improvement, radiological resolution, and complications. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over 1 year at a tertiary care centre, including 53 patients diagnosed with liver abscess (pyogenic/amoebic) confirmed by ultrasonography. All patients underwent percutaneous USG-guided drainage with pigtail catheter in addition to standard antimicrobial therapy. Clinical parameters, abscess characteristics, time to defervescence, duration of catheterization, hospital stay, and complications were recorded. Results: The study included 53 patients (38 males, 15 females; mean age 41.7 ± 12.4 years). Right lobe involvement was predominant (67.92%). Etiology was pyogenic in 21 (39.62%), Radiological resolution was achieved in 49 (92.45%) cases within 4 weeks. No major procedure-related morbidity or mortality was recorded. Conclusion: USG-guided percutaneous drainage is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive modality for management of liver abscess