Abstract
Neonatal liver abscess may stem from seeding of micro-organisms as part of a bacteremic process or from the portal vein, umbilical vein, or perivenous lymphatics. Liver abscess associated with neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has rarely been documented. We describe a case of a term neonate who developed NEC with intestinal perforation, requiring gut resection. This was followed by the formation of a liver abscess that eventually needed open drainage. It is believed that the causative organism (Escherichia coli) had disseminated to the liver via the portal vein from the necrotic bowel or during surgery.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beaven DW (1958) Staphylococcal peritonitis in the newborn. Lancet I: 869–871
Brans YW, Ceballos R, Cossady G (1974) Umbilical catheters and hepatic abscesses. Pediatrics 53: 264–266
Chusid MJ (1978) Pyogenic hepatic abscess in infancy and childhood. Pediatrics 62: 554–559
Dehner LP, Kissane JM (1969) Pyogenic hepatic abscess in infancy and childhood. J Pediatr 74: 763–773
Fraga JR, Javate BA, Venkatessan S (1974) Liver abscess and sepsis due to Klebsiella pneumoniae in a newborn. A complication of umbilical vein catheterization. Clin Pediatr 13: 1081–1082
Horley JF (1952) Congenital tuberculosis. Arch Dis Child 27: 167–172
Keller MA, Sellers BB, Melish ME (1977) Systematic candidiasis in infants: a case presentation and literature review. Am J Dis Child 131: 1260–1263
Kliegman RM (1990) Models of the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis. J Pediatr 117 (1 Pt. 2): S2-S5
Krauss A, Albert R, Kannan M (1979) Contamination of umbilical catheters in the newborn infant. J Pediatr 77: 965–969
Larroche JC (1970) Umbilical catheterization: its complications. Biol Neonate 16: 101–116
Liu KW, Fitzgerald RJ, Blake NS (1990) An alternative approach to pyogenic hepatic abscess. J Pediatr Child Health 26: 92–94
Moss TJ, Pysher TJ (1981) Hepatic abscess in neonates. Am J Dis Child 135: 726–728
Oppenheimer EH, Hardy JB (1971) Congenital syphilis in the newborn infant: clinical and pathological observation in recent cases. John Hopkins Med J 129: 63–82
Sharma K, Kumar R (1967) Solitary abscess of the liver in a newborn infant. Surgery 61: 812–813
Williams JW, Rittenberry A, Dillard R, Allen RG (1973) Liver abscess in newborn. Am J Dis Child 125: 111–113
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Correspondence to: C. T. Lim
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lim, C.T., Koh, M.T. Neonatal liver abscess following abdominal surgery for necrotizing enterocolitis. Pediatr Surg Int 9, 30–31 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00176103
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00176103