RT Journal
A1 Rosner MC, Bosniak MA
T1 DIagnosis of left-sided subphrenic abscess
JF Journal of the American Medical Association
JO Journal of the American Medical Association
YR 1959
FD November 7
VO 171
IS 10
SP 1282
OP 1286
DO 10.1001/jama.1959.03010280006002
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1959.03010280006002
AB A patient who had undergone two laparotomies progressed well until the 11 th day after the second operation; removal of a drain on that day was followed by fever, pain, and other symptoms suggesting the presence of an abscess. The location of the abscess under the left hemidiaphragm was revealed by roentgenography after the stomach had been moderately distended by having the patient drink a carbonated beverage. The abscess was then drained at a third laparotomy. All infection was cleared by therapy with chloramphenicol, and the patient recovered. Filling the stomach with air and carbon dioxide has certain advantages over filling with barium sulfate. In this case the altered contour of the stomach settled the diagnosis, and the same technique made it possible to follow the recovery process.