To investigate the pathogenesis and the selection of treatment of Iiver abscess after orthotopic Iiver transplantation(OLT).
Methods :Of 558 recipients of OLT in 4 years in our transplant center，liver abscess was identified in 10 recipients (1.8％) at 1-18 months after operation,and these causes were analyzed.
Results:There were 7 cases of postoperative hepatobiliary complications, 2 cases of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatoma recurrence, and 1 case of unidentified cause of infection. The chief clinical presentation included fever, hepatic dysfunction, hypoalbuminemia and anemia.The diagnosis was made mainly according to the clinical presentation and ultrasonography or CT scan.The treatments included aspiration and drainage of abscess，extermal or internal drainage with PTCD, antibiotics and supportive therapy and liver retransplantation. Eight of 10 patients were cured, 6 cases by drainage and 2 cases by retransplantation, but 2 cases died of sepsis.The cure rate was 80.0％.
Conclusions:The etiology of liver abscess after OLT is complicated.It may be related to hepatobiliary anastomotic stoma stenosis or obstruction, hepatobiliary ischemia or necrosis, interventional therapy for hepatoma recurrence, hepatic artery thrombosis or stenosis and methylprednisone pulse therapy.Liver abscess after OLT carries a poor prognosis, and early diagnosis and treatment is most important.