Percutaneous needle aspiration for liver abscess: Clinical profile and outcome analysis from Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan

Abstract

Ultrasonography (USG)-guided percutaneous needle aspiration (PNA) is an easy-to-perform, minimally invasive, low-risk, and cost-effective procedure for managing liver abscesses. However, only a few studies have described the clinical characteristics of liver abscess patients treated with this technique. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PNA in patients with liver abscesses treated at Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan. This observational descriptive study included 25 patients with liver abscesses admitted to Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan, in 2023. Participants were selected through total sampling. Variables assessed included demographic characteristics, history of alcohol or toddy consumption, length of hospital stay, number of aspiration sessions, clinical symptoms, ultrasonography findings, and antibiotic use. Data were collected as primary data through direct interviews and clinical observations during hospitalization. A total of 25 liver abscess cases underwent PNA during the study period. Most patients were male (23 patients, 92%) with a mean age of 42 years, and 23 patients (92%) had a history of alcohol consumption. All patients (100%) presented with fever and right upper quadrant pain. The mean hospital stay was 6.96 days. Clinical recovery was achieved in all patients, with 20 (80%) requiring only a single aspiration. In conclusion, USG-guided percutaneous needle aspiration combined with antibiotic therapy is an effective and safe approach for liver abscess management, resulting in shorter hospital stays and high recovery rates.