[Treatment of abscesses of the upper abdominal cavity after surgery on the liver].

Complications after 454 various operations on the liver are analysed. Abscesses of the upper part of the abdominal cavity (subdiaphragmatic and subhepatic abscesses, suppuration of residual cavities after resection of the liver and echinococcotomy) developed in 18.5% of patients in the postoperative period. Inadequate drainage of the abdominal cavity was among the main causes of such complications. The authors suggest an original method for drainage of the abdominal cavity after operations on the liver. With its use the number of these complications was three times less. It was found that in 40.5% of cases abscesses of the upper abdominal cavity may be cured by nonoperative measures, by puncture of the purulent cavity under control of ultrasonic examination and introduction of drains for subsequent aspiration. A surgical intervention is still the main method for the treatment of abscesses of the upper abdominal cavity. The success of the operation is determined to a great measure by effective drainage. A drainage method is suggested which allowed the time needed for the treatment in cases with such complications to be reduced almost by half.