DETERMINANTS OF DEATH IN PATIENTS WITH INTRA-ABDOMINAL ABSCESS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 88  (4) , 517-523
Abstract
To better define determinants of death in patients with intraabdominal abscess, 143 patients from a 5 yr hospital experience were reviewed. Abscesses were most commonly results of trauma, spontaneous gastrointestinal perforations and technical errors. Clinical presentation of abcess was quite variable as were criteria to justify reoperation for drainage. Abscesses occurred most commonly in the subphrenic space, pelvis or subhepatic space. Complete abdominal exploration was employed most frequently for drainage. Those factors that were associated with a fatal outcome were: organ failure (P < 0.001), lesser sac abscess (P < 0.001), positive blood culture (P < 0.01), recurrent and/or persistent abscess (P < 0.01), multiple abscesses (P < 0.01), age > 50 yr (P < 0.03) and subhepatic abscess (P < 0.03). These data suggest that deaths from abdominal abscess are consequences of ineffective surgical drainage and failure of host defense mechanisms.