Diagnosis and management of hepatic hydatidosis complicated with biliary fistula

A total of 1,204 patients with liver hydatidosis were treated by operations in our hospital from 1953 to 1990. Of these 74 had biliary fistulae. Growth of echinococcus cyst causes displacement, distortion and stenosis of the hepatic ductules with impaired bile drainage. Biliary effusion may occur between the endo- and ecto-cyst walls. Long term compression renders the hepatic ductule atrophic, and liable to rupture, forming a hydatid cyst-biliary fistula. The hydatid cyst can rupture into the biliary tract, and cyst fluid escapes into the biliary tract with daughter cysts discharged into the common bile duct, causing biliary colic, obstructive jaundice and possibly liver abscess. For acute obstructive and suppurative cholangitis, drainage of purulent bile and daughter cysts and management of the infected hydatid cyst are indicated. After removal of the echinococcus cyst, the fistulous opening on the hepatic duct must be sutured, but a small biliary fistula may be left alone. According to the thickness of the ectocyst wall, size of the cavity, severity of the infection, and degree of bile leakage, one of the following operative procedures for obliteration of the residual cavity can be selected: (1) closure by inversion suture of ectocyst; (2) omental or muscle flap obliteration; (3) closed catheter drainage.