(See also Acute Abdominal Pain.)
Etiology of Intra-Abdominal Abscesses
Intra-abdominal abscesses are classified as intraperitoneal, retroperitoneal, or visceral (see table Intra-Abdominal Abscesses). Many intra-abdominal abscesses develop after perforation of a hollow viscus or colonic cancer. Others develop by extension of infection or inflammation resulting from conditions such as appendicitis, diverticulitis, Crohn disease, pancreatitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or indeed any condition causing generalized peritonitis. Abdominal surgery, particularly that involving the digestive or biliary tract, is another significant risk factor: The peritoneum may be contaminated during or after surgery from such events as anastomotic leaks. Traumatic abdominal injuries—particularly lacerations and hematomas of the liver, pancreas, spleen, and intestines—may develop abscesses, whether treated operatively or not.
The infecting organisms typically reflect normal bowel flora and are a complex mixture of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. Most frequent isolates are
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Aerobic gram-negative bacilli (eg, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella)
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Anaerobes (especially Bacteroides fragilis)
Intra-Abdominal Abscesses
Location |
Etiology |
Organisms |
Intraperitoneal |
||
|
Subphrenic Right or left lower quadrant Interloop Paracolic Pelvic |
Postoperative; perforation of hollow viscus, appendicitis, diverticulitis, or tumor; Crohn disease; pelvic inflammatory disease; generalized peritonitis of any etiology |
Bowel flora, often polymicrobial |
Retroperitoneal |
||
|
Pancreatic |
Trauma, pancreatitis |
Bowel flora, often polymicrobial |
|
Perinephric |
Spread of renal parenchymal abscess (complication of pyelonephritis or rarely hematogenous from a remote source) |
Aerobic gram-negative bacilli |
Visceral |
||
|
Hepatic |
Trauma, ascending cholangitis, portal bacteremia |
Aerobic gram-negative bacilli if origin is biliary; polymicrobial bowel flora; if portal bacteremia, possibly amebic infection |
|
Splenic |
Trauma, hematogenous, infarction (as in sickle cell disease and malaria) |
Staphylococci, streptococci, anaerobes, aerobic gram-negative bacilli including Salmonella, Candida in immunocompromised patients |
Symptoms and Signs of Intra-Abdominal Abscesses
Abscesses may form within 1 week of perforation or significant peritonitis, whereas postoperative abscesses may not occur until 2 to 3 weeks after operation and, rarely, not for several months. Although manifestations vary, most abscesses cause fever and abdominal discomfort ranging from minimal to severe (usually near the abscess). Paralytic ileus, either generalized or localized, may develop. Nausea, anorexia, and weight loss are common.
Abscesses in the Douglas cul-de-sac, adjacent to the rectosigmoid junction, may cause diarrhea. Contiguity to the bladder may result in urinary urgency and frequency and, if caused by diverticulitis, may create a colovesical fistula.
Subphrenic abscesses may cause chest symptoms such as nonproductive cough, chest pain, dyspnea, hiccups, and shoulder pain. Rales, rhonchi, or a friction rub may be audible. Dullness to percussion and decreased breath sounds are typical when basilar atelectasis, pneumonia, or pleural effusion occurs.
Generally, there is tenderness over the location of the abscess. Large abscesses may be palpable as a mass.
Complications
Undrained abscesses may extend to contiguous structures, erode into adjacent vessels (causing hemorrhage or thrombosis), rupture into the peritoneum or bowel, or form a cutaneous or genitourinary fistula. Subdiaphragmatic abscesses may extend into the thoracic cavity, causing an empyema, lung abscess, or pneumonia. An abscess in the lower abdomen may track down into the thigh or perirectal fossa. Splenic abscess is a rare cause of sustained bacteremia in endocarditis that persists despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy.
Diagnosis of Intra-Abdominal Abscesses
CT of the abdomen and pelvis with oral contrast is the preferred diagnostic modality for suspected abscess. Other imaging studies, if done, may show abnormalities; plain abdominal x-rays may reveal extraintestinal gas in the abscess, displacement of adjacent organs, a soft-tissue density representing the abscess, or loss of the psoas muscle shadow. Abscesses near the diaphragm may result in chest x-ray abnormalities such as ipsilateral pleural effusion, elevated or immobile hemidiaphragm, lower lobe infiltrates, and atelectasis.
A complete blood count and blood cultures should be done. Leukocytosis occurs in most patients, and anemia is common.
Occasionally, radionuclide scanning with indium-111–labeled leukocytes may be helpful in identifying intra-abdominal abscesses.
Prognosis of Intra-Abdominal Abscesses
Treatment of Intra-Abdominal Abscesses
Almost all intra-abdominal abscesses require drainage, either by percutaneous catheters or surgery; exceptions include small (< 2 cm) pericolic or periappendiceal abscesses, or abscesses that are draining spontaneously to the skin or into the bowel. Drainage through catheters (placed with CT or ultrasound guidance) may be appropriate given the following conditions:
Antibiotics are not curative but may limit hematogenous spread and should be given before and after intervention. Therapy requires IV drugs active against bowel flora. Patients with community-acquired infection should be characterized as at low or high risk of treatment failure or death based on signs of sepsis or septic shock, extremes of age, comorbidities, extent of abdominal infection, and risk of resistant bacteria. For community-acquired infection in patients at low risk, recommended regimens include ertapenem as a single drug or metronidazole plus either cefotaxime or ceftriaxone. For community-acquired infection in patients at high risk, recommended regimens include piperacillin/tazobactam, cefepime plus metronidazole, imipenem/cilastatin, or meropenem. Patients previously given antibiotics or those who have hospital-acquired infections should receive drugs active against resistant aerobic gram-negative bacilli (eg, Pseudomonas) and anaerobes. (See also the Surgical Infection Society's revised guidelines on the management of intra-abdominal infection.)
Nutritional support is important, with the enteral route preferred. Parenteral nutrition should begin early if the enteral route is not feasible.
Key Points about Intra-Abdominal Abscesses
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Suspect abdominal abscess in patients with a previous causative event (eg, abdominal trauma, abdominal surgery) or condition (eg, Crohn disease, diverticulitis, pancreatitis) who develop abdominal pain and fever.
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Abscess may be the first manifestation of a cancer.
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Diagnosis is with abdominal CT.
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Treatment is percutaneous or surgical drainage; antibiotics are necessary but alone are not adequate treatment.
More Information about Intra-Abdominal Abscesses
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Revised Guidelines on the Management of Intra-Abdominal Infection from the Surgical Infection Society
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Drug Name | Select Trade |
|---|---|
piperacillin/tazobactam |
ZOSYN |
imipenem/cilastatin |
PRIMAXIN |
metronidazole |
FLAGYL |
ceftriaxone |
ROCEPHIN |
cefotaxime |
CLAFORAN |
ertapenem |
INVANZ |
meropenem |
MERREM |
cefepime |
MAXIPIME |
