Hydatid disease of the liver in Riyadh

ABSTRACT

Sixty-eight patients with hydatid disease involving various organs were admitted to Riyadh Central Hospital during a two-year period. The liver was involved in 42 patients, and 33 of them were treated surgically. Casoni's intradermal test [87% positive] and ultrasonography were the two most helpful investigations for establishing the diagnoss. Computerized tomography helped in better localization of the cyst and planning a suitable surgical procedure. Total cystoperiocystectomy was carried out on five patients, and thre patients were treated by endocystectomy with omentoplasty. No complications were noted among these patients. Endocystectomy with tube drainage was performed on 23 patients. This procedure was found most suitable for the majority of patients. Complications can be minimized by careful attention to any biliary communications and earlier removal of the drainage tube. There was no mortality following surgery in this series, but one patient died of anaphylaxis following percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Twenty percent hypertonic saline was used as a scolecidal agent in this series, and mild hypernatremia was noted among some patients. Serum sodium monitoring is recommended during the immediate postoperative period