[Hydatid cysts of the liver]

The authors present a series of 33 cases of hydatid liver disease; 28 patients are operated upon. Ultrasound and parasitology permits an easy diagnosis. Surgical treatment has to be simple: resection of the cyst dome and subtotal pericystectomy guarantee low mortality and recurrence rate. The hospital mortality of this series is 7% (2/28 pat.); the cyst recurrence rate 2.7% (1/37 treated cysts). Surgery of the hydatid cyst necessitates a complete peroperative exploration of the bile duct and the residual cyst cavity by peroperative cholangiography and injection of methylene blue. Biliary fistulas have to be treated in accordance to their importance, by simple suture or intubation with transhepatic drainage. An adequate follow-up is only possible by repeated serological examinations.