[The role of intraoperative ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of hydatid liver disease].

Liver hydatid disease still represents a frequent condition in Romania, especially among population of Dobrogea County, which may lead to life-threatening complications. To assess the role of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) in the diagnosis and treatment algorithms of liver hydatid disease. We could not find any similar studies in the literature in order to compare the results. The paper represents a retrospective study of IOUS performed for liver hydatid disease on a group of 43 patients admitted in the 2nd Clinic of Surgery - Clinical Emergency Hospital of Constanta. IOUS was intraabdominal (36 cases), transdiaphragmatic (7 cases) and was able to diagnose infected liver HC (7 cases), locate bilio-cystic fistulas (6 cases), hydatic cysts (18 cases) or relation with important anatomic elements (12). Ultrasound-guided frenotomy was performed in 5 cases and ultrasound-guided puncture in 9 cases. In 26 out of 43 patients (60.47%), IOUS influenced decision making during surgery. These data recommends IOUS in managing hydatid disease, allowing a complete diagnosis and optimal treatment, thus reducing postoperative morbidity.