Bronchobiliary fistula due to echinococcosis of the liver

In Greece, which has the second highest incidence of echinococcosis in the world, there has been an overall decrease in the frequency of this disease and its complications during the past 15 years. Between 1920 and 1960, approximately 46 patients per year were operated on for echinococcosis at the Hellenic Red Cross Hospital, and 1.8% of 1037 hepatic hydatid cysts had ruptured into the bronchi. From 1960 to 1975, the number of patients requiring operation decreased to approximately 25 per year, and incidence of rupture into the bronchi declined to 1% of 288 liver cysts. The reduction has resulted from improvements in preventive medicine and surgical care and a decrease in the frequency of infected cysts. Bronchobiliary fistula is a serious complication of hydatid cyst of the liver and it must be treated surgically. A right thoracotomy or thoracoabdominal approach offers the possibility of dealing simultaneously with the hepatic cyst and the pulmonary lesions. The choice of operation depends on the findings and ranges from simple drainage of the hepatic cavity with division of the bronchobiliary communication, to resection of the lung (usually lobectomy) when a chronically infected pulmonary cavity is present. If a hydatid cyst of the liver ruptures simultaneously into the lung and the extra-hepatic biliary tree with resultant obstruction of the common bile duct, unblocking of the common duct by evacuation of cysts and debris through a laparotomy takes priority over any other surgical action. Of 3 patients with bronchobiliary fistulas treated during the past 15 years, 2 were cured by simple drainage through a transabdominal approach.