Acute intraperitoneal rupture of hydatid cysts of the liver: Case series.

ABSTRACT: Hydatid cyst is a parasitic infection caused mainly by Echinococcus granulosus, which is generally considered benign. However, the hepatic hydatid cyst rupture in the abdominal cavity is a life-threatening incident that requires urgent and multidisciplinary management (emergency physicians, radiologists, anesthetists, and surgeons). This study describes clinical and paraclinical liver hydatid cyst rupture in the peritoneal cavity and details the appropriate treatment.A retrospective review of clinical records of patients hospitalized in Jendouba Hospital for liver hydatid cyst was performed over 8 years, from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2019. Fifteen cases of liver hydatid cyst complicated with acute rupture into the abdominal cavity were collected out of 625 hydatid liver cysts. All patients underwent emergency laparotomy allowing conservative unroofing procedure associated with peritoneal lavage and external drainage combined with necessary intensive care measures. Clinical features, therapeutic procedures' details as well as postoperative outcomes are reported. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows version 20.There were 9 men and 6 women. Patients' age ranged from 14 to 59 years, with an average of 38 years. Two patients were admitted with abdominal trauma. Acute abdominal pain was the most common complaint. Only 1 patient had an anaphylactic shock. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography scan showed discontinuous cyst wall associated to intraperitoneal fluid in all cases. Intraoperatively, the intraperitoneal effusion was clear in 13 cases and purulent in 2. All patients underwent unroofing procedures associated with intra-operative peritoneal lavage and external drainage. The mean hospital stay was 6.11 days, and the mean follow-up was 19 months. No case of recurrence was reported among the patients.In endemic areas, rupture of a hepatic hydatid cyst in the abdominal cavity should be considered in every case of acute abdominal pain, especially if associated with anaphylaxis signs. Early management starting in the emergency room is needed to ensure good outcome.

Primitive isolated hydatid cyst of the spleen: total splenectomy versus spleen saving surgical modalities.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to describe the clinical features of the isolated primitive splenic hydatid cyst, discuss and compare the different surgical approaches of this uncommon disease. METHODS: This is a descriptive retrospective study carried out over a period of 7 years extending from January 2013 to December 2019 reporting eight cases of isolated primitive splenic hydatid cysts. Data were collected from the register of the general surgery department of the Jendouba regional hospital. Files concerning another associated hydatid localization were excluded. Four patients underwent total splenectomy and four of them underwent different spleen preserving surgical techniques including resection of the protruding dome, partial splenectomy and pericystectomy. RESULTS: The diagnosis was incidentally made in 50% of cases. The main other revealing complaints are pain in the left upper quadrant of abdomen in 25% of cases and a painless renitent mass in the same quadrant in only 12,5%. None of patients who underwent total splenectomy had fever or sings of postoperative sepsis. Compared to those who had total splenectomy, patients who underwent spleen preserving surgery had a longer average hospital stay (9 vs 6,25 days) related to post-operative complications including abscess in the residual cavity after protruding dome resection in one patient and post-operative haemorrhage in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: The current case series argues in favor of total splenectomy, preferably by laparoscopic route whenever the technical platform allows it, associated with some specific peri-operative therapeutic measures. It seems to be the safest way that helps to avoid post-operative complications of spleen saving surgical modalities. These complications are usually difficult to manage in poor countries with limited technical resources. Total splenectomy guarantees at least a decreased hospital stay, reduced healthcare costs, and the absence of recurrence in highly endemic underdeveloped countries.

Gossypiboma: the failure of a successful intervention.

If successful surgery is the primary quest of any surgeon, unintentionally leaving behind surgical items in the operative field remains his most feared obsession. This rare but dramatic accident can lead to potentially fatal complications and turn both lives of the surgeon and the patient upside down. We present the case of a 29-year-old female patient who presented to the ER with three days history of severe diffuse abdominal pain associated with fever, biological inflammatory syndrome and well-tolerated iron deficiency anaemia. She had no past medical history except for a lower segment cesarean section 5 months ago. Abdominal MRI allowed the diagnosis of two gossypibomas responsible for two intra-abdominal collections. An emergency laparotomy allowed the removal of these foreign bodies and the management of their serious complications of intestinal perforation by the construction of a double intestinal stoma. The patient made a post-operative uneventful recovery. This observation emphasizes the need to raise the practitioner´s awareness about this differential diagnosis in every case of any poorly localized abdominal pain occurring after surgery.