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Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
About me
Zhang Weiwei, associate chief physician, graduated from Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, engaged in the clinical work of integrated Chinese and Western internal medicine for more than 10 years, and studied in the oncology department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. He has rich clinical experience.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of advanced tumors, infertility, menstrual disorders, pelvic inflammatory disease, breast diseases, and cardiovascular diseases using a combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
Voices
What should I do if a liver abscess ruptures?
Firstly, we must keep our emotions stable, avoid being nervous, avoid anxiety, and avoid shouting loudly, as these can increase the likelihood of bleeding. Do not excessively increase the pressure in the abdominal cavity. So, what treatment methods do we have? There are two types of treatments: surgical and non-surgical. If the patient has a mild liver rupture and stable vital signs without persistent active bleeding, treatment can be administered through blood transfusion, fluid infusion, hemostasis, antibacterial drugs, and hepatoprotective drugs. However, it is crucial to closely monitor the patient's vital signs and regularly review the imaging studies of the condition. We must diligently observe any changes in the patient's condition. If evidence of active bleeding occurs during conservative treatment, then surgical intervention must be immediately performed.
Treatment of liver abscess
The treatment of liver abscesses is divided into medical and surgical treatment. Medical treatment mainly involves antibiotic therapy. For bacterial liver abscesses, especially during the acute phase when the inflammation is localized and an abscess has not yet formed, or there are multiple small abscesses, aggressive conservative medical treatment should be given. This involves the use of high doses of antibiotics and general supportive therapy to control the absorption of inflammation. The second method is antibiotics combined with percutaneous puncture drainage. For a single, larger liver abscess, aspiration of pus can be performed under ultrasound guidance. After aspirating as much pus as possible, antibiotics can be injected into the abscess cavity, followed by repeated punctures over several days, or a tube can be placed to drain the pus. When the abscess shrinks and the fluid output decreases, the tube can be removed. The third method is antibiotics combined with surgical drainage. For larger liver abscesses that have a potential to rupture and cause complications such as acute peritonitis and pyothorax, surgical incision and drainage should be performed urgently, alongside the use of systemic antibiotics. The fourth approach is antibiotics combined with surgical resection. For chronic liver abscesses, or those whose abscess walls do not collapse after drainage, leaving a dead space, or with sinus tracts that continually discharge pus without healing and where liver lobe destruction is severe with loss of normal functions, hepatic lobectomy can be performed.
Reasons why liver abscesses do not liquefy
The reasons for the non-liquefaction of liver abscesses, in my opinion, are several. The first is that the abscess is very large, and the second is the inappropriate use of antibiotics. So, what can we do to solve this problem? Firstly, liquefaction of a liver abscess takes time, and it is difficult for a large abscess or a single large abscess to be absorbed on its own. Therefore, it requires combining with percutaneous drainage. Often, even if the abscess has not fully liquefied, fine needle aspiration can still be performed to extract the pus for culture, and then identify the sensitive antibiotics. After administering a sufficient amount and course of the sensitive antibiotics, the liquefaction of the liver abscess can be accelerated and the pus can be expelled sooner.
Liver abscesses are treated in the Department of Hepatology.
This is likely a common and frustrating issue for many patients who visit this hospital on a daily basis. As the name suggests, liver abscess is related to the department of hepatobiliary sciences. It can also be looked into by other departments linked to the liver, such as hepatology, infectious disease department, and even the department of traditional Chinese medicine. No matter which department you visit, you can initially undergo some routine blood tests, abdominal ultrasound, CT scans, etc., to determine the size and scope of the liver abscess, check whether it has ruptured or caused any bleeding. Subsequently, based on the doctors' initial diagnosis, you can be referred to the relevant department. If surgery is needed, the patient should visit the department of hepatobiliary surgery. If surgery is not necessary, the departments of infectious diseases, hepatology, or traditional Chinese medicine are all viable options.
Should one abstain from certain foods if they have a liver abscess?
Dietary restrictions are necessary for liver abscesses, which are purulent liver diseases caused by various microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or amoebae. If not treated promptly, the mortality rate can reach 10% to 30%. What should one pay attention to in their diet? First, absolutely no alcohol consumption during the onset of the disease, as it increases the burden on the liver and delays the healing of the liver abscess. Second, spicy, stimulating, greasy, and fried foods must be avoided as they can aggravate the liver abscess. Third, pickled vegetables and certain foods considered "heaty" by traditional Chinese medicine should also be avoided, such as beef, lamb, dog meat, longan, and lychee. It is recommended to consume a light diet and eat vegetables and fruits that can clear heat and detoxify.
Is a liver abscess serious? How is it treated?
If acute abdomen and peritonitis caused by liver abscesses, rupture, hemorrhage, or pyothorax, etc., liver abscesses are relatively severe. In these cases, the first steps should be the use of adequate antibiotics for a sufficient course, along with systemic supportive therapy, then controlling the inflammation and promoting the absorption of the inflammation. For conditions like rupture of liver abscesses or severe damage to the liver lobes that results in loss of normal function, surgical removal may also be considered. Additionally, for large liver abscesses that have perforated, causing peritonitis, pyothorax, or cholangiogenic liver abscess, while using systemic antibiotics, actively incising and draining the abscess should be considered. (Please use medications and treatment under the guidance of a doctor.)
Can people with liver abscess eat chicken?
In principle, patients with liver abscess who are not allergic can consume some chicken soup, but it should be low in oil and salt, and lightly flavored. We can remove the chicken skin and then stew it lightly. Patients can drink small amounts of chicken soup multiple times to supplement their normal nutrition and enhance their immunity. Since a liver abscess is a consumptive disease, patients repeatedly experience high fevers, low fevers, sweating, and profuse sweating. They need foods that are high in protein and light to boost their immunity and promote a faster recovery from the disease.
Is hot compress good for mammary gland hyperplasia?
We first understand that breast hyperplasia is caused by endocrine hormonal imbalances due to various factors including neuroimmune responses and trace elements, leading to imbalances in bodily endocrine factors. This results in a disruption of the balance between estrogen and progesterone, with a decrease in progesterone secretion during the luteal phase and a relative increase in estrogen levels. This causes prolonged stimulation of breast tissue by estrogen, lacking the regulation and protective effects of progesterone, thus leading to the development of breast hyperplasia. Generally, hot compresses are not effective; instead, under the guidance of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) differentiation, Chinese herbal medicine can be used for adjustment. It's important to relax emotionally, engage in appropriate exercise, and pay attention to a balanced diet with a proper mix of meat and vegetables, ensuring nutritional balance. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, consume less honey, soybeans and soy products to reduce intake of natural estrogens, enhance physical exercise to boost immunity, and subsequently make regular hospital visits for check-ups. (The use of medication should be under the direction of a doctor)
Can I drink milk with a liver abscess?
Patients with liver abscess can drink milk if they are not allergic to it. The main symptoms of a liver abscess are abdominal pain and irregular high fever, and it is considered a consumptive disease. For such diseases, we must strengthen nutritional support treatment and adopt a digestible, high-protein diet to achieve the purpose of rapid improvement and cure of the disease. Milk is a food with relatively high protein content and is also easy to digest. If there is no milk allergy, patients with liver abscess can drink an appropriate amount of milk. About 250ml per day is beneficial for the rapid recovery of the liver abscess and for improving the body's immunity.