Chen et al identified risk factors for death in patients requiring intensive care related to a pyogenic liver abscess. These can help to identify a patient who may benefit from more aggressive management. The authors are from China Medical University Hospital in Taichung, Taiwan.
Patient selection: adults >= 18 years of age admitted to the ICU because of a pyogenic liver abscess
Independent poor prognostic factors present on the first day of ICU admission (identified on multivariate logistic regression analysis):
(1) APACHE II score > 16
(2) acute respiratory failure
Additional findings seen in nonsurvivors indicative of multi-organ failure:
(1) acute renal failure
(2) longer prothrombin time (PT)
(3) septic shock
Other findings:
(1) inadequate antibiotic therapy
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