ABSTRACT
Between June 1986 and May 1989 35 children (18 boys and 17 girls) below the age of 12 years were surgically treated for hydatid cysts of the liver. Of the children 24 (68.5%) had a single cyst situated in either of the lobes of the liver, while the remaining 11 (31.5%) harboured more than one cyst. A uniform method of enucleation, partial cystectomy and external tube drainage was used in all of them. Small residual cavities were not drained but were kept open on to the surface of liver. Results showed that six patients (17.1%) had transient biliary discharge which resolved within 3-6 days, whereas in two children (5.7%) biliary drainage persisted for four, respectively six weeks following surgery. This also stopped spontaneously. The method we used in our patients was safe and effective.
