Surgical treatment of hepatic hydatidosis combined with perioperative treatment with albendazole.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of albendazole combined with surgery on the incidence of recurrent hydatid disease.

DESIGN

Prospective open study.

SETTING

Teaching hospital, Turkey.

SUBJECTS: 25 patients who presented with hepatic hydatid disease between December 1992 and October 1995.

INTERVENTIONS: Albendazole 10 mg/kg/day for a month before ultrasonography and then excision, and then albendazole for a further two months.

RESULTS

2 patients were excluded because the albendazole caused disturbance of liver enzyme activities. Of the remaining 23 patients only 7 had viable cysts on ultrasonography. In 15 patients (65%) the germinal layer was partially or totally destroyed, and in 15 the fluid was either cloudy or stained with bile. During a mean follow up period of 29 months only one patient developed recurrent disease.

CONCLUSION

Perioperative treatment with albendazole resulted in fewer recurrences than expected. A longer preoperative period of treatment may increase the success rate; this requires further study.