Clinical features and treatment of bronchial rupture of pulmonary hydatid cyst in children: a retrospective study of 36 patients

Background The aim of this study was to review the clinical symptoms, radiological data, surgical techniques, and postoperative complications associated with bronchial rupture of pulmonary hydatid cysts in children and evaluate the results of surgical treatment. Materials and methods A retrospective study of 40 surgical procedures performed for pulmonary hydatid cyst ruptured in the bronchial tree in 36 children (22 boys and 14 girls), aged between 7 and 18 from January 2009 to December 2019. Results The study included 36 patients with a mean age of 14.7. Most symptoms were cough (63.9%), chest pain (38.9%), hemoptysis (33.3%), and hydatid vomiting (22.2%). Chest X-ray, chest CT scan and abdominal echography was performed in all cases. Surgical approach was posterolateral thoracotomy in all cases. Conservative treatment was possible in 35 patients (97.2%) through cystotomy in 25 cases, pericystectomy in 11 cases, and lobar resection in 1 case (2.8%). Average operative time was 103 min (range: 53 and 185 min) and mean postoperative hospital stay was 5.9 days. The postoperative complications occurred in 4 (11.1%): atelectasis ( N = 2), wound site infection ( N = 1), and prolonged air leak ( N = 1). There was no postoperative mortality. After an average follow-up of 39 months there was no recurrence. Conclusion Ruptured hydatid cyst of the lung into the bronchus. Must be surgically treated and carefully due to the risk of per-operative bronchial flooding. Conservative surgical procedures with precise closure of the bronchial fistulas and capitonnage can complete removal of the cyst with low complications.