Surgery of hydatid disease of the liver

In the period from [1981 - 1984] 46 cases of hydatid disease of liver were treated in Riyadh Central Hospital in Saudi Arabia. Diagnosis was made using clinical criteria, serology. skin tests, ultra-sound, liver scans and CAT scan. Peri-cystectomy [excision of the cyst] was done for 2 pedunculated cysts. Endocystectomy and evacuation of daughter cysts with tube drainage of the cavity was done for 6 cases. This procedure was abandoned because of prolonged hospitalization [3- 8 weeks] and high incidence of infection in residual cavity. Endocystectomy with evacuation of daughter cysts with deroofing of the cavity was done for 38 cases. This was the prefered line of treatment because of short hospitalizatioo [10- 15 days] and low incidence of infection [8%]. All the cases were examined pathologically after removal