Minimally invasive transthoracotomy–transphrenotomy for concurrent hepatic and pulmonary hydatid disease

Single-stage versus two-stage surgery of pulmonary and hepatic hydatid cysts

Introduction

Concomitant lung and liver hydatid cyst is a rare condition. Most surgeons agree that both sites should be resected in one-time surgery.

Aim

We present a case series of hepatic and pulmonary hydatid cyst treated in one-stage surgery (OSS) compared with patients who underwent two-stage surgery (TSS).

Material and methods

This retrospective study included 47 patients separated into two groups (33 TSS and 14 OSS) between 2008 and 2019. Data on clinical symptoms, sites, radiological features, techniques, postoperative complications, mean hospital stay and outcome were analyzed separately for TSS and OSS procedures.

Results

A total of 33 patients who underwent TSS (70.2%) were compared to 14 patients operated on by OSS (29.8%). No significant differences were found between groups for age (45.3 vs. 42.7, p = 0.45), sex (male: 57.6% vs. 64.2%) and socio-geographic status (urban: 72.7% vs. 78.6%). But there were more postoperative complications (24.3% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.036) in the TSS group, and operative duration (154 minutes vs. 122 minutes, p = 0.047), postoperative hospital stay (13.8 days vs. 8.7 days, p = 0.022), and interruption of activities and work (56 days vs. 31 days, p = 0.045) were longer in the TSS group. There was no difference in postoperative mortality between the 2 groups.

Conclusions

Single-stage surgical management by trans-thoraco-phrenotomy can be recommended to treat dual-seat hepatic and pulmonary hydatid disease with fewer complications and a rapid return to work. This technique is easier and safer for right lung and liver dome hydatid cysts.

Single-Stage Transthoracic Surgery of Right Pulmonary and Hepatic Hydatid Cysts: A Retrospective Study of Fourteen Patients

Background: The association of pulmonary and hepatic hydatid cysts is rare. Managing this condition with low mortality and complications is a challenge. The aim of this study is to put forward our experience in managing both sites in single-stage posterolateral thoracotomy. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of 14 patients who underwent single-stage posterolateral thoracotomy and phrenotomy to treat right lung and liver hydatid cysts between January 2010 and December 2019 were reviewed. Results: Fourteen of 135 patients (10.4%) with double location of hydatid disease were treated in our department for pulmonary hydatid cysts in the same period. There were nine males and five females who were 20 to 72 years old (average age, 42.7 years). Chest computed tomography (CT) and abdominal scan were performed in all cases. The surgical approach was posterolateral thoracotomy and phrenotomy without laparotomy in all cases. Conservation of hepatic and pulmonary parenchymas was possible in 13 patients (92.8%). Average operative time was 122 minutes (range, 95-210 minutes) and the average post-operative hospital stay was 8.7 days. Post-operative complications occurred in two (14.3%) cases, one was atelectasis and the other persistent biliary and air leakage. There was no post-operative mortality. All patients received post-operative medical treatment for three to six months and there was no recurrence after an average follow-up of 26 months. Conclusion: Single-stage thoracotomy is a better option than thoracotomy and laparotomy for the management of double located hydatid cysts. It has a lower complication rate, shorter hospital stay, and rapid resumption of normal activity.

[Combined echinococcosis management in children]

AIM

To analyze the results of diagnosis and treatment of combined echinococcosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 51 children. 40 (78.4%) of them had combined lesion of liver and other organs, 29 - combined echinococcosis of liver and lungs. Echinococcosis of both lungs was observed in 14 children including lesion of liver in 6 cases. Combined echinococcosis of three organs was observed in 5 patients.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Combined echinococcosis in children was associated with uneven growth of parasitic cysts in various tissues. Small cysts were revealed in 15 (37.5%) out of 40 observations of combined lesion of liver and other organs. 7 patients underwent medical therapy for small cysts after previous surgery for medium and large cysts. Rapid growth of remained cysts occurred within 1-3 months between surgical stages. It may be often associated with complications related to remained cyst especially in case of both lungs echinococcosis. There were 6 (11.8%) postoperative complications in 51 patients with combined echinococcosis. Recurrence occurred in 2 (3.9%) children. Deaths were absent.

CONCLUSION

Conservative therapy for small cysts provides 2-fold decrease of operations number and prevents recurrence of the disease. Reduced period between surgical stages up to 11±2 days prevents complications in case of both lungs echinococcosis.

Brief original scientific report: a new surgical approach for the treatment of left pulmonary and hepatic hydatid disease

BACKGROUND

The combination of pulmonary and hepatic hydatid cysts is frequently encountered, and poses a challenge in terms of surgical accessibility. The surgical treatment of the two locations by the same incision (thoracotomy with phrenotomy) has been proposed, but always from the right side. However, applying this technique to the left side seems to be more difficult and unusual. We herein describe a new left-sided technique that was used to treat two patients with pulmonary and hepatic hydatid cysts.

METHODS

The first patient was 14-year-old; he had bilateral pulmonary hydatid cysts and one type I cyst of the left lobe of the liver. The second patient was a 10-year-old female who had a hydatid cyst of the upper left lobe with one type III cyst of hepatic segments 2 and 3.

RESULTS

Both patients were operated on via a left lateral thoracotomy through the sixth intercostal space. They underwent cystectomy for the left pulmonary hydatid cysts, followed by padding, and then the hepatic cyst was treated by Lagrot's method via a radial phrenotomy. The postoperative course was uneventful in both cases, with postoperative hospital stays of 3 and 5 days, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This combined treatment of pulmonary and hepatic hydatid cysts by the left-sided thoracic approach is feasible and provides a good outcome. It should be indicated under the same conditions of accessibility and feasibility applied for the right thoracic side.

Optimal duration of preoperative anti-helminthic therapy for pulmonary hydatid surgery

BACKGROUND

The optimal duration of preoperative anti-helminths for prevention of recurrences in pulmonary hydatidosis is unclear, although 1-3 weeks of therapy is routinely used.

METHODS

Forty-five patients of pulmonary hydatid disease were randomly assigned into four groups to receive either 0, 2, 4 or 8 weeks of preoperative albendazole (ABZ) and praziquantel (PZQ). Viability of the scolices in the fluid harvested at surgery (methylene blue staining) and ability to produce peritoneal hydatids in mice (intra-peritoneal inoculation) were compared in different groups.

RESULTS

The percentage viability of the scolices as a whole was significantly (P < 0.001) lower in the treated cysts (n= 36, mean 43.5 +/- 35.69) compared with the untreated cysts (n= 8, mean 94.75 +/- 7.21). The viability progressively decreased with increasing durations of chemotherapy (P < 0.001). Mean percentage viability of scolices was 88.72 +/- 4.91% in patients treated for 2 weeks (n= 12), 38.09 +/- 9.10% after 4 weeks (n= 11) and 8.1 +/- 9.23% after 8 weeks (n= 14). Intra-peritoneal mice inoculation was positive in 90% of the cysts that received therapy for 2 weeks or less and none of the patients who received therapy for 8 weeks had a positive inoculation.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative combination therapy with ABZ and PZQ effects a scolicidal response which increases with the increasing duration of the preoperative chemotherapy, and a 4-week course of the combination chemotherapeutic agents seems to be the minimum required duration for ensuring scolicidal activity enough to prevent spillage-induced recurrences following pulmonary hydatidosis.

Parasitic diseases of the respiratory tract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The human pulmonary system can be affected by a variety of parasites. This review focuses on the most common parasitic infestations involving the lung, except for protozoon disease.

RECENT FINDINGS

In many parasitic lung conditions, the clinical manifestations and the imaging findings are non-specific and can make diagnosis challenging. Hydatid disease and paragonimiasis involve the lung directly. Chronic schistosomiasis can lead to pulmonary hypertension. Strongyloides stercoralis infestation is capable of transforming into a fulminant fatal disease. In many types of nematode infestations, the pulmonary phase can cause acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Chest radiographs of patients with paragonimiasis and dirofilariasis can cause diagnostic confusion. Cases of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia typically present with refractory bronchial asthma. Most of these diseases are initially diagnosed by detecting eggs or larvae in stool, sputum, pleural fluid or tissue, and are confirmed by serologic testing. Cystic hydatid disease generally requires surgical treatment, whereas almost all other parasitic lung conditions can be treated medically.

SUMMARY

Although most parasites that affect the lung are endemic to tropical and subtropical regions, immigration and travel practices have resulted in transfer of these diseases to other areas. It is important for physicians to know the epidemiologic characteristics, clinical presentations, and treatments of choice for these conditions.