An unusual complication of gallbladder empyema is its rupture into the liver forming giant multiloculated pyogenic abscesses. This condition is rapidly fatal in diabetic and immunocompromised patients.
We present a 79-year-old African American woman resident in New York City with a medical history of diabetes mellitus who presented at the ED with constitutional symptoms and right upper quadrant pain of a few days duration. She was tender and had a positive murphys sign on clinical examination coupled with tachycardia and a low-grade fever. Laboratory findings of leukocytosis, and metabolic acidosis, lactic academia and elevated ketones with moderately deranged hepatic function tests and negative tumor markers. Management consisted of broad spectrum antibiotics and an urgent open cholecystectomy and drainage of multiple multi-loculated hepatic abscesses. A repeat ultrasonogram showed a remnant collection which was drained by interventional radiology and drains left in-situ. She was discharged after four weeks of parenteral antibiotics with repeat sonogram showing complete resolution of hepatic abscess.
Key words: pyogenic hepatic abscess gallbladder, pyogenic abscess of the liver, pyogenic liver abscess, pyogenic hepatic abscess treatment, pyogenic hepatic abscess drainage
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