Splenic abscess: a single institution study and review of the literature

• Published in: Yonsei medical journal Vol. 52; no. 2; pp. 288 - 292
• Main Authors: Lee, Won-Suk, Choi, Sang Tae, Kim, Keon Kuk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Yonsei University College of Medicine 01.03.2011; 연세대학교의과대학
• Subjects: Abscess - diagnosis; Abscess - drug therapy; Abscess - microbiology; Abscess - surgery; Abscess - therapy; Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Drainage; Female; Humans; Klebsiella Infections - diagnosis; Klebsiella Infections - drug therapy; Klebsiella Infections - microbiology; Klebsiella Infections - surgery; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Splenectomy; Splenic Diseases - diagnosis; Splenic Diseases - drug therapy; Splenic Diseases - microbiology; Splenic Diseases - surgery; Streptococcal Infections - diagnosis; Streptococcal Infections - drug therapy; Streptococcal Infections - microbiology; Streptococcal Infections - surgery; Treatment Outcome; Viridans Streptococci; Young Adult; 의학일반
• ISSN: 0513-5796; 1976-2437
• DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2011.52.2.288

The aim of this study was to review our experience with splenic abscesses, with respect to the relevant aspects of splenic abscesses and treatment outcomes. We reviewed the cases of 18 patients who had splenic abscesses and who were treated at our hospital from November 1993 to December 2008. The most common symptom at presentation was abdominal pain in 12 patients (66.7%). The median duration from symptom onset until establishment of a diagnosis was 22 days. Streptococcus viridans was the most common pathogen (27.8%), follow by Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.2%). The mortality rate during the inpatient period and the previous 90 days was 16.6%. Three of four patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae showed a single abscess pocket. Four patients (22.2%) underwent percutaneous drainage, eight (44.5%) received antibiotic treatment only and six (33.3%) underwent splenectomy. There is no gold standard for treating splenic abscesses. Treatment should be customized for each patient.