Diagnosis and surgical treatment of intrabiliary ruptured hydatid disease of the liver : general surgery

Background and objectives. The major complication of hydatid disease of the liver is intrabiliary rupture of the cyst. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with intrabiliary ruptured hydatid disease of the liver. Method. Using a standardised data collection instrument, case records of patients who were operated on for hydatid disease of the liver diagnosed between January 1990 and December 2001 at Dicle University Hospital (DUH) were searched and 192 patients who had been operated for hydatid disease of the liver were detected. Of these, 20 patients (16 females, 4 males) were retrospectively reviewed for intrabiliary ruptured hydatid disease of the liver. Results. Intrabiliary ruptured hydatid disease of the liver was determined in 10.4% (N = 20) of the patients (N = 192) operated for hydatid disease of the liver. The average age of patients was 38.9 ± 14.05 years (range 20 - 72 years). The duration of the symptoms was 3.4 ± 2.13 years (range 1 - 8 years). The most frequent symptoms were right upper quadrant / epigastric pain, dyspepsia, jaundice and pruritus. Diagnosis of hydatid cyst was principally made using ultrasonography. Twelve cysts (60%) were located in the right lobe, 5 (25%) in the left lobe, and 3 (15%) in the right and left lobes. The size of the cysts was 12.6 ± 5.79 cm (range 6 - 20 cm). The average diameter of the common bile duct (CBD) was 20.45 ± 8.54 mm (range 10 - 40 mm). Dilated CBD in 16 patients (80%) and daughter cysts and debris in the CBD in 10 patients (50%) were found during operation. Partial cystectomy and capitonnage were performed in all patients. In addition, T-tube drainage in 17 patients, omentoplasty plus T-tube drainage in 2 patients and choledochoduodenostomy in 1 patient were carried out during operation. An internal opening of the biliary fistula was found and sutured in 12 patients (60%). Wound infections developed in 6 patients (30%), suppuration of the residual cavity in 4 patients, and wound dehiscence in 2 patients. Two patients (10%) died from sepsis-multiple organ failure and hepatic failure. The average period of hospitalisation was 28.75 ± 19.1 days (range 10 - 103 days). Conclusions. If bile-stained cystic fluid and a dilated CBD is found in patients with hydatid disease of the liver, choledochal exploration should be performed during operation. T-tube drainage may be preferred in the management of intrabiliary ruptured hydatid disease because of low morbidity, the ability to d