Experience of surgical therapy in 72 patients with thoracic hydatidosis over a 10-year period.
OBJECTIVE
This review aims to evaluate retrospectively 72 patients diagnosed to have thoracic hydatid disease and treated surgically in Tikur Anbessa Hospital between December 1993 and November 2003.


METHODS
Retrospective Analysis hospital records.


METHODS
Tikur Anbessa Hospital, Department of Surgery, Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.


METHODS
Medical records and Operation theater registers of seventy-two Patients operated on for Thoracic hydatidosis were evaluated retrospectively. Chest Roentgenogram was the main diagnostic tool used Main surgical techniques employed were evacuation in 44 (52.4%) cysts, cystotomy in 30 (35.7%) cysts, and enucleation in 10 (12%) cysts. Additional palliative procedures (such as pericystectomy and Capitonnage) and radical procedures (such as resection of the lung) were also employed.


RESULTS
forty of the patients were male and thirty-two female with a mean age of 31.4 years. The most Common presenting symptoms were cough in 60 (83.3%) patients, expectoration in 47 (65.3%) patients and chest pain in 38 (52.8%) patients. Chest radiography revealed a round opacity or shadow in 58 (80.6%) patients. All patients were treated surgically. The mean hospital stay was 38.3 days. Major postoperative Complications occurred in 12 (16.9%) patients; pneumonia, pleural effusion and prolonged air leak were the complications in order of their frequency. There was one postoperative death and one recurrence at 6-months follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical excision of pulmonary hydatidosis with maximum preservation of lung parenchyma is possible in the majority of patients and should remain the mainstay of surgical treatment.
Ali
Adem
A
Department of Surgery, Tikur Anbessa Hospital, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. aaliahmed@hotmail.com
Biluts
Hagos
H
Gulilat
Dereje
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D004445:Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors