PULMONARY HYDATIDOSIS IN CHILDREN

In the years 1963-1991 inclusive, 88 patients were operated on with a diagnosis of pulmonary hydatid disease. The cysts were intact in 69 an d infected in 19 cases. It was possible to use a surgical technique th at preserved the pulmonary parenchyma in 67 patients. In this techniqu e, the cavity after removal of the mother membrane is left open and on ly the air leaks are sutured. Continuous postoperative drainage of the residual cavity and the ipsilateral hemithorax always resulted in com plete inflation of the affected lung. Enucleation of the endocyst and extended resection of the sclerotic pulmonary parenchyma were performe d in 15, enucleation and obliteration in three, lobectomy in two and B arrett's method was applicable in one patient. A bronchopleural fistul a developed in 11 patients postoperatively and in four of these cases a second thoracotomy was necessary. Postoperative empyema developed in four cases. There were two postoperative deaths in the series. Eighty -six patients were symptom-free in the long-term postoperative follow- up. We conclude that in the surgical management of the disease it shou ld not be necessary to obliterate the residual cavity with extensive s uturing which always leads to extra fibrosis with loss of viable pulmo nary parenchyma.