Surgical treatment and complications of thoracic hydatid disease. Report of 61 cases.

Echinococcus cysts in the thoracic cavity were diagnosed and treated in 61 patients. Diagnosis was usually made by clinical and radiological manifestations of hydatid disease. Empyema, broncho-biliary, and biliary-pleural fistulae are complications of thoracic echinococcosis. Portal hypertension, systemic venous obstruction, paraplegia, arterial emboli due to endocardial cysts are complications of echinococcus cysts. In 40 patients with uncomplicated cysts, cystectomy-capitonnage was performed. Lobectomy or segmental resection was undertaken for complicated cysts and destroyed lung parenchyma, in ten patients. Extirpation of the cyst is preferred for extrapulmonary location, and median sternotomy is applied for bilateral multiple pulmonary hydatid cysts. In our series, the incidence of surgical complications was low and there was no surgical mortality. Recurrence or pleural implantation of pulmonary echinococcus cyst have not been found during an average nine-months follow up.