This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of percutaneous drainage in hepatic abscesses with long term follow-up. A retrospective analysis of percutaneous drainage of 105 hepatic abscesses in 95 patients with at least 1-year follow-up data was performed. Percutaneous drainage was guided by combined ultrasonography/fluoroscopic (93 patients) and computed tomography (2 patients). Five abscesses were drained by simple aspiration whereas catheter drainage was used in the remaining 100 abscesses along with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Initial cure and failure rates were 83 % (87/105) and 16 % (17/105), respectively. One abscess was (1%) palliated. Recurrence and 30-day mortality rates were 8.5 % (9/105) and 3.8 % (4/105), respectively. Seven of 9 abscesses which recurred in the follow-up period were treated percutaneously, as well. Two of them had medical treatment. Overall success and failure rates after the catheterization of recurrences were 90.5 % and 9.5 %, respectively. No mortality due to procedure was observed. Median duration of catheterization was 14 days (range 3-120 days). In conclusion, hepatic abscesses are managed by percutaneous drainage with high success and low morbidity and mortality rates.