Hepatic abscess secondary to foreign body perforation of the stomach

Abstract

Foreign body penetration of the stomach is seldom encountered in general surgical practice. Liver abscess as a consequence of such occurrence has only been reported sporadically. We report three cases of liver abscesses due to direct penetration injury of the stomach by ingested foreign bodies. All three patients presented with clinical features of liver abscess without history of foreign body ingestion. All recovered with surgical treatment. Successful management relies on prompt recognition and early intervention as deaths have been reported due to missed or delayed diagnosis. The potential role of a minimally invasive approach in the management of this entity is also discussed.