[Liver abscess : case report and literature review]. / Abcès hépatique : rapport de cas et revue de la littérature.

Liver abscess is a rare condition. There are multiple etiologies and mortality linked to the infections or local complications is high. The rapid diagnosis and the implementation of an adequate and effective treatment are essential to allow healing without sequels. We report the case of a monofocal bacterial hepatic abscess in a 61-year-old patient with an iatrogenic origin. A review of the literature is proposed in order to address the incidence, the different microorganisms, the different etiologies and the different possibilities of treatment. It should be noted that mycotic abscess, which is extremely rare outside the immunocompromised patient, will not be discussed in this article.

L'abcès hépatique est une pathologie rare. Les étiologies sont multiples et la mortalité, liée au phénomène infectieux ou aux complications locales, est élevée. La rapidité diagnostique et la mise en place d'un traitement adéquat et efficace sont indispensables pour permettre la guérison sans séquelle. Nous rapportons le cas d'un abcès hépatique bactérien monofocal d'origine iatrogène à la prise en charge compliquée chez une patiente de 61 ans. Une revue de la littérature est ensuite proposée afin d'aborder l'incidence, les différents micro-organismes, les différentes étiologies et les différentes possibilités de prise en charge. A noter que l'abcès mycotique, rarissime en dehors du patient immunodéprimé, ne sera pas discuté dans cet article.

Practice variability in the management of infrarenal arterial stenoses in seven Belgian hospitals.

This multicentre retrospective study describes the variation of therapeutic options, treatment outcomes and costs for treating infrarenal arterial stenoses as observed in daily practice in 1997-99 in seven Belgian hospitals. Data were obtained from clinical record review and from the sickness fund claims database, and included preoperative functional state, presence of acute ischaemia, diabetes and polyvascular disease, state of the lower-leg run-off arteries, anatomical site and type of lesion, type of treatment, result at 30 days and up to 4 years. A total of 442 episodes were studied, but most analyses dealt with a subgroup of 240 lesions in the common iliac up to the superficial femoral artery. The proportion of surgical treatments (as compared to an endovascular or mixed approach) varied from 15% to 81% between the hospitals. In univariate survival analysis, relapse or failure rates at 4 years ranged from 5% for the common iliac artery to 35% for the superficial femoral artery. Polyvascular disease, a poor run-off, multiple stenoses and chronic occlusion were significant risk factors; age and diabetes were not. In the multivariate (stratified Cox regression) analysis, only a location in the superficial femoral artery and a poor preoperative clinical stage were significant risk factors, but type of therapeutic approach was not. The total average cost of treatment was 5300 Euro, of which 15% was contributed by the patient. Surgery was associated with longer stays (median at 12 days) than endovascular treatments (median 2 d), and was 1.9 times more expensive. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that a multidisciplinary approach, orienting the patient to the most appropriate therapeutic pathway could increase both the quality and the cost-effectiveness of the care. In many clinical situations, the endovascular approach appears to offer similar long-term results as surgery, but at a substantially lower cost, both for the patient and for society, especially when performed in a (semi-)ambulatory radiology setting.

Practice variability in the management of subrenal arterial stenoses in seven Belgian hospitals.

This multicentre retrospective study describes the variation of therapeutic options, treatment outcomes and costs for treating subrenal arterial stenoses as observed in daily practice in 1997-99 in seven Belgian hospitals. Data were obtained from clinical record review and from the sickness fund claims database, and included preoperative functional state, presence of acute ischaemia, diabetes and polyvascular disease, state of the lower-leg run-off arteries, anatomical site and type of lesion, type of treatment, result at 30 days and up to 4 years. A total of 442 episodes were studied, but most analyses dealt with a subgroup of 240 lesions in the common iliac up to the superficial femoral artery. The proportion of surgical treatments (as compared to an endovascular or mixed approach) varied from 15% to 81% between the hospitals. In univariate patency analysis, relapse or failure rates at 4 years ranged from 5% for the common iliac artery to 35% for the superficial femoral artery. Polyvascular disease, a poor run-off, multiple stenoses and chronic occlusion were significant risk factors; age and diabetes were not. In the multivariate (stratified Cox regression) analysis, only a location in the superficial femoral artery and a poor preoperative clinical stage were significant risk factors, but type of therapeutic approach was not. The total average cost of treatment was 5,300 Euros, of which 15% was contributed by the patient. Surgery was associated with longer stays (median at 12 days) than endovascular treatments (median 2 days), and was 1.9 times more expensive. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that a multidisciplinary approach, orienting the patient to the most appropriate therapeutic pathway, could increase both the quality and the cost-effectiveness of the care.