Albendazole as an adjuvant to the standard surgical management of hydatid cyst liver.
BACKGROUND
The treatment options for hydatid cyst liver include non-operative and operative methods. Operative methods include conservative and radical procedures. Non-operative methods include chemotherapy and percutaneous treatment of liver hydatidosis.


METHODS
The study was conducted at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar, Kashmir, India, over a period of two years from March 2001 to February 2003 with further follow-up of 5-6 years. The study included 64 cases in the age group of 15 years to 64 years, comprising 36 males and 28 females. The aim of the study was to know the effect of preoperative and postoperative albendazole therapy on the viability of protoscolices and recurrence rate of hydatid disease of liver. Patients were divided into four group of 16 each. In group A, patients were directly subjected to surgery. In group B, patients were given albendazole for 8 weeks followed by surgery. In group C, patients were given albendazole for 8 weeks preoperatively followed by further postoperative course for 8 weeks. In group D, patients were first taken for surgery followed by postoperative course of albendazole for 8 weeks.


RESULTS
Out of those patients who received preoperative albendazole only 9.37% had viable cysts at the time of surgery as compared to 96.87% of patients who did not receive any preoperative albendazole. In those patients who did not receive any albendazole therapy, recurrence rate was 18.75% whereas recurrence was 4.16% in patients who received albendazole therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that albendazole is safe and effective adjuvant therapy in the treatment of hydatid liver disease.
Arif
Sajad Hussain
SH
Department of Surgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.
Shams-Ul-Bari
Wani
Nazir Ahmad
NA
Zargar
Showkat Ahmad
SA
Wani
Mehmood Ahmad
MA
Tabassum
Rehana
R
Hussain
Zahoor
Z
Baba
Ajaz Ahmad
AA
Lone
Riyaz Ahmad
RA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole