[Echinococcosis and pregnancy: approaches to the treatment]

To develop treatment strategy in pregnant women with liver echinococcosis.

There were 21 women with confirmed diagnosis of liver echinococcosis who were divided into 2 groups. Group I consisted of 17 patients with cysts Charbi grade I-III. They underwent percutaneous puncture and antiparasitic management of the cyst under intravenous sedation. Group II included 4 patients with cysts grade IV-V and those with multiple cysts. They underwent conventional surgery.

In one patient, fetal death occurred in 20 hours after surgery and it was not associated with the procedure. There were no complications in other patients. Uneventful childbirth was noted in all of them.

Percutaneous puncture in the second trimester of pregnancy is effective and safe procedure for prevention of complications of echinococcosis in late pregnancy and childbirth. Conventional surgery is alternative if percutaneous intervention is not advisable.