Clinical characteristics of pyogenic liver abscess with and without biliary surgery history: a retrospective single-center experience

Background & aims Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a common hepatobiliary infection that has been shown to have an increasing incidence, with biliary surgery being identified as a trigger. Our aim was to investigate the clinical characteristics and treatments of PLA patients with and without a history of biliary surgery (BS). Methods The study included a total of 353 patients with PLA who received treatment at our hospital between January 2014 and February 2023. These patients were categorized into two groups: the BS group ( n = 91) and the non-BS group ( n = 262). In the BS group, according to the anastomosis method, they were further divided into bilioenteric anastomoses group (BEA, n = 22) and non-bilioenteric anastomoses group (non-BEA, n = 69). Clinical characteristics were recorded and analyzed. Results The percentage of PLA patients with BS history was 25.78%. The BS group exhibited elevated levels of TBIL and activated APTT abnormalities ( P = 0.009 and P = 0.041, respectively). Within the BS group, the BEA subgroup had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus ( P < 0.001) and solitary abscesses ( P = 0.008) compared to the non-BEA subgroup. Escherichia coli was more frequently detected in the BS group, as evidenced by positive pus cultures ( P = 0.021). The BS group exhibited reduced treatment efficacy compared to those non-BS history ( P = 0.020). Intriguingly, the BS group received a higher proportion of conservative treatment (45.05% vs. 21.76%), along with reduced utilization of surgical drainage (6.59% vs. 16.41%). Conclusions Patients with BS history, especially those who have undergone BEA, have an increased susceptibility to PLA formation without affecting prognosis.