An unusual cause of pyogenic liver abscess. The conundrum of broom splinter. Report of two cases

Abstract

Pyogenic liver abscess is an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Very few cases of liver abscess due to foreign bodies have been reported. We report our experience in two patients who were successfully managed for liver abscess due to impaled broom splinter. Broom splinters were swallowed unnoticed during consumption of Jute leaves (Corchorus olitorus) (”Ewedu”) soup. Definitive diagnoses in both cases were made at surgery. This is the first case of broom stick-induced liver abscess to be reported in the literature.

Keywords

• abscess
• broom
• “ewedu”
• liver
• pyogenic
• surgical