aetiology
Last reviewed 01/2018
Subphrenic abscesses may occur as the result of generalised peritonitis following:
- acute appendicitis
- perforated peptic ulcer
- perforated gallbladder, producing a right-sided subphrenic abscess, and biliary surgery
- bowel surgery and subsequent peritoneal faecal contamination
Other causes include infection of a haematoma, for example, after splenectomy.