EXPERIENCE WITH THE TREATMENT OF HYDATID LIVER-DISEASE

Between January 1984 and December 1990, 56 patients with hydatid liver disease were treated surgically at our Department. Diagnosis was made by using clinical criteria, serology and imaging techniques. Most fre quent clinical symptom was abdominal pain or local discomfort (38 pati ents, 68 %). Plain X-ray of the abdomen was helpful in 20 patients (36 %), liver ultrasound in 53 (93 %) and computerised tomography in 56 p atients, (100 %). The immunoelectrophoresis test of ''arc 5'' was sens itive in 51 patients (91 %). Thirty patients (53 %) underwent partial resection and omentoplasty, 17 patients (30 %) underwent external drai nage, two cystic resection (3 %), one left lateral lobectomy (2 %) and six (11 %) underwent omentoplasty and T-tube insertion. Fatal complic ations did not occur. Four patients developed hapatic abscess (7%), th ree wound infection (5%), one bowel obstruction (2 %) and in five inst ances (8%) drainage was maintained for more than three months. Of the 49 patients available for follow-up (87 %), three (6 %) developed recu rrent disease.