The management of liver hydatid cysts by percutaneous drainage

Objective: To investigate the effect of percutaneous drainage on liver hyda tid cysts. Design: A retrospective case study. Setting: Department of Surge ry, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey. Patients: Forty-five patients with 83 liver hydatid cysts (types I and II according to the classification of Gha rbi and colleagues) followed up for a mean of 30 months (range from 14 to 3 6 months). Intervention: The cysts were drained percutaneously with ultraso nographic guidance and then irrigated with 0.05% silver nitrate solution th rough a fine needle. Albendazole was administered 48 hours before percutane ous drainage and for 2 months after the procedure to prevent the implantati on of spilled scolices. Main outcome measures: Complications of the procedu re, decrease in size of the cyst cavity, recurrence and dissemination of th e cysts. Results: Ail the cysts were treated successfully by percutaneous d rainage. Anaphylactic shock developed in 1 (2.2%) patient, and mild allergi c reactions were observed in 2 (4.4%) patients during the interventional pr ocedure. Follow-up ultrasonography and CT demonstrated a statistically sign ificant (p < 0.01) decrease in the mean cyst size. Recurrence and dissemina tion were not observed during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Percutaneou s fine-needle aspiration and drainage ius effective for managing cystic liv er hydatid disease in selected cases.