If you have experienced radiologists and/or surgeons along with the appropriate drainage catheters then percutaneous drainage of a liver abscess is a reasonable course of action to take rather than to immediately operate.

I am surprised that no one else has answered this question.

Please provide an update.

Left lobe liver abscess is not as accesable to drain by imaging modalities like Right lobe.However percutanious drainage is  relatively simple ,Our protocol is to involve Interventional radiologist in all cases.Laparoscopic drainage is faster, complete and recovery from sepsis related conditions resolve faster,but requires General anaesthesia.This is the method of choice for large amoebic liver abscess which we see in this part of the world.

Depending on the specific anatomy, this is readily amenable to endoscopic ultrasound. Typically a single 10F double pigtail is sufficient, even with some complexity to the abscess. I typically see bacterial and/or fungal etiologies, which statistically complicate cholangitis.

Left abscesses are uncommon as compared to right lobe abscessses.Although interventional radiologist and catheters are available in most private hospitals.,however these are rare commodity in government hospitals were we deal with huge case loads sans good facilities.We prefer to operate only when patient is toxic or hasnot improved despite course of antibiotics or if peritonitis is suspected.USG guided aspiration is a cheaper alternative we often take recourse too.

We prefer Percutaneous drainage under Scanner  + Ab.

EXCELLENT and informative answers