Persistent pleural effusion after open heart surgery: giant hydatid cyst of the liver and its demonstrative images. A case report.

BACKGROUND

Approximately in 50% of the patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), pleural fluid collection occurs at the early postoperative period and resolves spontaneously.

CASE REPORT: CABG was performed on a 54-year-old male. In the early postoperative period, the chest roentgenogram revealed right pleural collection. The preoperative and the postoperative hepatic function tests were nor-mal. MR scanning revealed a giant hydatid cyst at the apex of the liver. The cyst was excised through thoracotomy transphrenically and primary capitonage was applied.

CONCLUSIONS

In the persistent right pleural effusion that occurs after open heart surgery hydatid cyst of the liver should be remembered, especially in the endemic regions.