[Treatment of hydatid echinococcosis]

In Russia the first one-stage operation for hepatic echinococcosis was performed by A.A. Bobrov by his method in 1895. At present there is much experience in surgical treating echinococcosis. With the advent of new ultrasonic diagnostic methods, computed tomography, and new germicide treatment methods have changed. The analysis of 228 patients with echinococcosis treated from 1983 to 1999 was carried out. The traditional surgical interventions were performed in 121 patients; the mortality was 2.5%, the relapse rate 22.3%. Minimum invasive interventions (punctures, hydatid cyst drainage, followed by germicidal treatment) were performed as the only treatment in 68 patients and with subsequent traditional interventions in 22 patients. Experimental studies demonstrated that the retention of gigantic acephalocysts in traditional treatment is the main cause of echinococcal dissemination. 80-100% Glycerin is the most effective germicide. Chemotherapy as the only treatment may be applied only in very minor cysts inaccessible to puncture. A combination of minimum invasive procedures and preoperative (1 course) and postoperative (2-3 courses) chemotherapy is the most effective.