Quistectomía laparoscópica en quiste hidatídico hepático / Laparoscopic cystectomy in hidatidid cyst

Resumen Objetivo: Describir resultados en términos de morbilidad y mortalidad del tratamiento de quistes hidatídicos hepáticos (QHH) por vía laparoscópica en una serie de pacientes consecutivos. Comparar calidad de vida (CV) de pacientes sometidos a quistectomía laparoscópica (QL) con pacientes llevados a colecistectomía laparoscópica. Materiales y Método: Serie de casos con seguimiento de pacientes con QHH, sometidos a QL. Analizamos datos con Stata® 10.0, mediante medidas de tendencia central y dispersión. Describimos 4 variables, realizando seguimiento con tomografía computada (TC) abdominal. Aplicamos encuesta de calidad de vida SF-36. Resultados: Incluimos 12 pacientes, 58,3% de género femenino. Número de quistes 2,02 ± 1,56, volumen quístico mayor 809,16 ± 766,05 ml, diámetro de quiste mayor 11,77 ± 4,33 cm, predominando en lóbulo hepático derecho (58%). Tiempo operatorio promedio 234,1 ± 52,9 minutos. Estadía hospitalaria promedio 11,5 ± 14,5 días. Morbilidad en 16,6%, sin mortalidad posoperatoria. Seguimiento con imágenes promedio fue 7,9 ± 4,3 meses, encontrando cavidades residuales pequeñas y asintomáticas en 50% de pacientes. No reportamos recidivas. Al comparar CV con grupo de colecistectomía sólo encontramos diferencia respecto a vitalidad (p = 0,04). Discusión: Aunque nuestra serie es pequeña y presenta mayor tiempo quirúrgico (por selección de pacientes) y mayor estancia hospitalaria que en otras series de QL, presenta menor porcentaje de recidivas, de fístulas biliares y no presenta mortalidad, concordando con otras series de QL que la recomiendan como opción terapéutica. Conclusiones: La QL para el tratamiento de los QHH resulta una cirugía aceptable, con morbilidad y mortalidad comparable con reportes de cirugía abierta.

Aim: To describe results in morbidity and mortality terms of the hepatic hydatidosis (HHC) treatment by laparoscopic route in selected patients. In addition, compare the quality of life (QL) of cystomectized vs cholecystectomized patients, both laparoscopically. Materials and Method: Case series with follow-up of patients with HHC, undergoing laparoscopic cystectomy (LC). Data analysis, through measures of central tendency and dispersion, performed with Stata® 10.0. Analyzing 4 variables followed-up with abdominal computed tomography. A quality of life survey SF-36" was applied. Results: 12 patients were included, 58.3% female gender. Cysts number 2.02 ± 1.56, largest cystic volume 809.16 ± 766.05 ml, larger cyst diameter 11,77 ± 4,33 cm. Right hepatic lobe is predominantly 58%. Surgical time, 234.16 ± 52.95 minutes. Hospital stay, 11.58 ± 14.55 days. Morbidity 16.6%, with no postoperative mortality. Follow-up, performed at 7.9 ± 4.3 months, finding residual cavity in 50%, no recurrences were reported. At comparing QL with cholecystectomy group, we only found differences at the vitality item (p = 0,04). Discussion: Although our series is small and has a longer surgical time (by patient selection) and a longer hospital stay than in other LC series, it has a lower recurrences percentage, biliary fistulas, and no mortality, agreeing with other LC series that recommend it as a therapeutic option. Conclusions: The laparoscopic approach for the HHC treatment, is an acceptable surgery, with morbidity and mortality comparable to the reports of laparotomy surgery.

Infected hepatic echinococcosis. Clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic aspects. A systematic review.

Infected hepatic echinococcosis (IHE), defined as a cystic infection, and the development of a liver abscess may be a complication in the natural history of hepatic echinococcosis. The aim of this study was to review the evidence available related to clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic aspects of IHE. We conducted a systematic review. Trip Database, BIREME-BVS, SciELO, LILACS, IBECS, PAHO-WHO; WoS, EMBASE, SCOPUS and PubMed were consulted. Studies related to IHE in humans, without language restriction, published between 1966 and 2020 were considered. Variables studied were publication year, geographical origin of the samples, number of patients, therapeutic and prognosis aspects, and methodological quality (MQ) for each article. Descriptive statistics was applied. Subsequently, weighted averages (WA) of the MQ of each article were calculated for each variable of interest. 960 related articles were identified; 47 fulfilled selection criteria, including 486 patients with a median age of 48 years, 51.6% being male. The largest proportion of articles were from Spain, India, and Greece (36.1%). Mean cyst diameter was 14.1 cm, and main location was right liver lobe (74.0%). WA for morbidity, mortality, hospital stay, and follow-up were 28.5%, 7.4%, 8.5 days and 14.8 months, respectively. The most common causative microorganisms of superinfection isolated were Enterobacteriaceae. An association with cholangitis was reported in 13.4% of cases. Mean MQ of the 47 articles included was 7.6 points. We can conclude that the information related to IHE is scarce and scattered throughout articles of small casuistry and poor quality, and consequently does not provide strong evidence.

Feasibility of Retrohepatic Inferior Vena Cava Resection Without Reconstruction for Hepatic Alveolar Echinococcosis.

This study evaluates the feasibility of retrohepatic inferior vena cava (RHIVC) resection without reconstruction in patients with end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Four hundred and fifty-seven patients diagnosed with hepatic AE and who underwent surgical resections between January 2010 and October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Nine patients receiving RHIVC resection without reconstruction were included in this study. Among the patients, 5 were male and 4 female. Mean follow-up time was 64.4 months (18-95). In this series, adequate collateral circulation was formed before operation in all patients, and 7 cases underwent ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation (ELRA) and 2 cases underwent extended right hemi-hepatectomy. Average standard liver volume, graft volume, surgical time, and anhepatic phase in ELRA group patients was 1144 ± 127 cm3, 740 ± 235 cm3, 16.8 ± 4.1 hours, and 337.4 ± 108.65 minutes respectively. Average hospital stay time for all patients was 45 ± 36.4 days. There were no intraoperative deaths. The 30-day mortality rate was 11.1%, and total mortality rate was 22.2%. Postoperative complications occurred in 4 patients. During follow-up, no relapsed AE lesions were found. RHIVC resection without reconstruction is a feasible way for hepatic AE patients with adequate collateral circulation. Careful protection of collateral venous is the key factor for successful operation.

Operative treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts: A single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Hydatid cyst is a zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus genera. Surgery is needed in most cases. We aimed to describe our center's experience in the surgical management of hepatic hydated cysts (HHC). METHODS: Data was retrospectively collected for patients who underwent operative management for HHC between the years 1994-2014. RESULTS: Sixty-nine underwent surgical treatment for HHC. Group A included 34 treated with an unroofing procedure, group B included 24 patients who underwent hepatectomy and group C included 11 patients who underwent peri-cystectomy. The median ± (range) age for groups A, B and C were 39.5 (6.5-69), 40 (17-74) and 32 (20-62), respectively (P > 0.1). Post-operative complications occurred in 16, 11 and 5 patients in group A, B and C, respectively, as assessed by clavien-dindo classification (CDC). The average CDC was significantly higher in the hepatectomy group as compared to the unroofing group (2.3 vs.1.5, P = 0.04). Recurrence was significantly higher after the unroofing procedure as compared to the hepatectomy group (P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for HHC, once surgery is pursued, the results are satisfactory.

Radical versus conservative surgical treatment of liver hydatid cysts: a meta-analysis.

To date, the efficacy of radical surgery (RS) versus conservative surgery (CS) for liver hydatid cysts (LHC) remains controversial. This meta-analysis was conducted to compare the two interventions. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from their inceptions until June 2016. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 12.0 software. We identified 19 eligible studies from 10 countries by retrieval. In total, 1853 LHC patients who received RS were compared with 2274 patients treated by CS. The risk of postoperative overall complication, biliary fistula, and recurrence was significantly lower, and operation time was significantly longer in the RS group. However, no statistically significant differences were found in terms of mortality risk and the duration of hospital stay between RS and CS. No significant publication biases were observed in all the above analyses. In conclusion, RS reduces the rates of postoperative complications and recurrence, whereas no trend toward such a reduction in mortality was observed in LHC patients.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the treatment of liver hydatid cyst: Comparing laparoscopic and open surgeries.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: There is an academic debate regarding surgical interventions for liver hydatid cyst disease. The purpose of the current systematic review and meta-analysis study was to analyse the pros and cons of open surgery and laparoscopic techniques, considering the outcomes of liver hydatid cysts. METHODS: Descriptive Boolean queries were used to search PubMed and Scopus for articles published between January 2000 and December 2016 to evaluate the outcomes of liver hydatid cyst in terms of mortality, post-operative complications, cure rate and recurrences. The data related to the four outcomes of liver hydatid cyst were extracted, assessed and then used as their corresponding effect sizes in the meta-analysis process. RESULTS: Six studies totally consisting of 1028 patients [open surgery group=816 (+7 converted to lap) and laparoscopic group=212] were analysed. In this meta-analysis study, random effects models of outcomes (i.e. post-operative complications, mortalities, recurrences and cure rate) of the two procedures were OR=0.852, LL=0.469, UL=1.546, Z=-0.526, p=0.599 (for post-operative complications); OR=0.849, LL=0.141, UL=5.105, Z=-0.179, p=0.858 (for mortality); OR=0.903, LL=0.166, UL=4.906, Z=-0.119, p=0.906 (for recurrence); and OR=0.459, LL=0.129, UL=1.637, Z=-1.201, p=0.230 (for cure rate). Meta-analysis and illustrated forest plots showed that there are no superiorities between the two approaches. The results of heterogeneity tests of the above mentioned outcomes were Q=8.083, df=5, p=0.152, I2=38.142% for post-operative complications; Q=0.127, df=2, p=0.938, I2=0% for mortality; Q=4.984, df=2, p=0.083, I2=59.874% for recurrence; and Q=10.639, df=5, p=0.059, I2=53.001% for cure rate. The results of regression tests based on Egger's, smoothed variance based on Egger (SVE) and smoothed variance based on Thomson (SVT) showed that the p values are not significant, and there are neither significant statistical differences nor publication bias between the outcomes of the two treatment procedures. CONCLUSION: The results show no promising trends towards advantages of open versus laparoscopic surgeries in the treatment of liver hydatid cyst. However, informative measurement values for comparing these surgeries could be derived for complications, recurrence, mortality and cure rates. Furthermore, all three tests, namely Egger's, SVE and SVT regression models, were used to assess publication bias and showed no evidence for the existence of publication bias.

Hepatic Echinococcosis with Thoracic Involvement. Clinical Characteristics of a Prospective Series of Cases.

INTRODUCTION: Thoracic involvement (TIHE) is one of the evolutionary complications of hepatic echinococcosis (HE). AIM: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and postoperative morbidity (POM) of a series of patients with TIHE treated surgically. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Series of cases of patients treated for TIHE between 2000 and 2014 in the Hospital Regional and Clínica Mayor in Temuco, Chile, with a minimum 12-month follow-up. The outcome variable was "development of POM". Descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS: The series was composed of 37 patients with a mean age of 53.2 ± 47.4 years (51.4% female). Mean cyst diameter was 19.4 ± 15.5 cm, and 75.7% of the lesions were located in the right hepatic lobe. The most frequent surgical technique used for the cyst was subtotal pericystectomy (56.8%); the residual cavity was treated by capitonnage (27.0%) or omentoplasty (21.6%), and a phrenoplasty with or without prosthetic material was performed for the TIHE. Mean hospital stay was 6.0 ± 5.7 days and follow-up was 61.4 ± 79.9 months; a mortality rate of 2.7% (one patient) and a POM of 24.3% (9 patients) were verified. CONCLUSION: TIHE is an uncommon evolutionary complication of HE associated with significant POM rate.

Cholangiohydatidosis: an Infrequent Cause of Obstructive Jaundice and Acute Cholangitis.

BACKGROUND: One of the evolutionary complications of hepatic echinococcosis (HE) is cholangiohydatidosis, a rare cause of obstructive jaundice and cholangitis. The aim of this study was to describe the results of surgical treatment on a group of patients with cholangiohydatidosis and secondary cholangitis in terms of post-operative morbidity (POM). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Case series of patients operated on for cholangiohydatidosis and cholangitis in the Department at Surgery of the Universidad de La Frontera and the Clínica Mayor in Temuco, Chile between 2004 and 2014. The minimum follow-up time was six months. The principal outcome variable was the development of POM. Other variables of interest were age, sex, cyst diameter, hematocrit, leukocytes, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and transaminases, type of surgery, existence of concomitant evolutionary complications in the cyst, length of hospital stay, need for surgical re-intervention and mortality. Descriptive statistics were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients were studied characterized by a median age of 53 years, 50.0% female and 20.0% having two or more cysts with a mean diameter of 13.3 ± 6.3 cm. A median hospital stay of six days and follow-up of 34 months was recorded. POM was 30.0%, re-intervention rate was 10.0% and mortality rate was 5.0%. CONCLUSION: Cholangiohydatidosis is a rare cause of obstructive jaundice and cholangitis associated with significant rates of POM and mortality.

Hepatectomy for patients with alveolar echinococcosis: Long-term follow-up observations of 144 cases.

BACKGROUND: Western China is a region in which alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is endemic. Few studies and comparisons have evaluated the outcomes of AE patients after hepatectomy, and no strategy has been defined for the treatment of AE patients with unresectable tumors. This study sought to assess the outcomes of AE patients after hepatectomy at a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 144 patients with hepatic AE who were treated via hepatectomy at our center between January 2004 and December 2015. Patients' overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and risk factors were analyzed, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed. Patient age, year of initial treatment, PNM stage, and risk factors were entered as co-variates in a Cox regression modle that was used for analysis. RESULTS: Hepatectomy was performed in 144 patients diagnosed with hepatic AE (84 complete resections and 60 reduction surgeries). In the complete resection group, the 5- and 10-year OS rates were both 97.6%, and the 5- and 10-year PFS rates were both 97.9%. In the reduction surgery group, the 5-, and 10-year OS rates were 89.7% and 73.4%, respectively, and the 5-, and 10-year PFS rates were 78.1% and 69.5%, respectively. Patients in the complete group had better OS prognoses and PFS than patients in the reduction surgery group (P = 0.018 and P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that curability and portal vein invasion are independent factors associated with PFS (P = 0.028 and P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The most effective therapy for AE is complete resection. Reduction surgery does not appear to offer obvious advantages over benzimidazole therapy alone in the treatment of AE. Curability and portal vein invasion are independent prognostic factors for PFS in a multivariate analysis.

Liver Transplantation for Incurable Alveolar Echinococcosis: An Analysis of Patients Hospitalized in Department of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases in Gdynia.

INTRODUCTION: Alveolar echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. It usually involves the liver, but can spread to other organs. The treatment of choice is a surgical resection supported by antiparasitic drugs. In the advanced stages of the disease a liver transplantation is the only option. AIM: This article presents the problems related to care of patients after liver transplantation for advanced alveolar echinococcosis. MATERIAL: Sixty-seven patients with alveolar echinococcosis were hospitalized in our clinic in the years 2000-2015. Liver transplantation has been a therapeutic option for 9 patients. We retrospectively analyzed data of qualification for the liver transplantation and the postoperative treatment. RESULTS: Follow-up time after liver transplantation ranged from 7 months to 155 months (average, 6.4 years). One patient, with a history of advanced disease (P4N1M0), died due to liver failure. One patient was lost to follow-up. After liver transplantation all patients were receiving albendazole treatment. Two patients did not follow the medical recommendations. In 1 patient, who decided to stop therapy after 1 year, the relapse of alveolar echinococcosis in the left lobe of the transplanted liver passing through the diaphragm to the pericardium was detected. In another case we suspected a relapse of alveolar echinococcosis in transplanted liver due to positive serological tests. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of patient after liver transplantation for alveolar echinococcosis is good. The main problem caused by immunosuppressive therapy is a recurrence of disease in the transplanted liver.

Alveococcosis of the liver - strategy of surgical treatment with special focus on liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by infestation with any of 4 (of the 16) members of the Echinococcus genus, namely Echinococcus granulosus, Echinococcus multilocularis, Echinococcus oligarthus, and Echinococcus vogelii. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to present the outcomes of patients undergoing liver resection and liver transplantation (LT) for E. multilocularis infection. METHODS: A total of 44 patients who underwent surgical treatment of E. multilocularis infection in the period between 1989 and 2014 were included in the study cohort and retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: LT was performed in 22 patients (50.0%), including 4 of 26 patients undergoing initial non-transplant management. Non-transplant procedures comprised liver resection in 23 patients (88.5%), diagnostic laparoscopy in 2 (7.7%), and left adrenalectomy in 1 patient (3.8%). Post-transplantation survival rates were 90%, 85%, and 75% at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, LT for E. multilocularis infection is a safe and effective treatment method.

[PROGNOSTICATION OF AN ACUTE POSTRESECTIONAL HEPATIC INSUFFICIENCY].

An acute postresection hepatic insufficiency (PHI) constitutes a necessary moment before the hepatic resection planning, permits in some situations to conduct prophylactic measures and to avoid this severe complication. Possibility of PHI occurrence was prognosticated for results of surgical treatment improvement in patients, suffering focal hepatic affection, using introduction of certain preoperative preparation and surgical tactics. The main task of the investigation was to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of the investigation methods and elaboration of prognostic algorithm of an acute PHI occurrence.

Hidatidosis hepática: todavía un problema / Liver hydatid disease: still a problem

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Laparoscopy or open surgery for the treatment of hydatid cyst?

The laparoscopic approach has taken a prominent role in the last decades for various surgical conditions, including liver hydatid cyst. However there is controversy about whether it can replace open surgery. Using Epistemonikos database, which is maintained by screening 30 databases, we identified three systematic reviews which together include four relevant studies, all nonrandomized. We combined the evidence using meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table following the GRADE approach. We concluded it is unclear whether laparoscopy for hepatic hydatid cyst reduces mortality, morbidity or recurrence compared with open surgery because the certainty of the evidence is very low.

En las últimas décadas se ha posicionado el abordaje laparoscópico para diversas patologías quirúrgicas, entre ellas el quiste hidatídico hepático. Sin embargo existe controversia sobre si realmente este puede reemplazar a la cirugía abierta. Utilizando la base de datos Epistemonikos, la cual es mantenida mediante búsquedas en 30 bases de datos, identificamos tres revisiones sistemáticas que en conjunto incluyen cuatro estudios pertinentes, todos no aleatorizados. Realizamos un metanálisis y tablas de resumen de los resultados utilizando el método GRADE. Concluimos que no está claro si el manejo del quiste hidatídico hepático por laparoscopía disminuye la mortalidad, morbilidad o recurrencia en comparación con la cirugía abierta porque la certeza de evidencia es muy baja.

Prevention of Postoperative Bile Leak in Partial Cystectomy for Hydatid Liver Disease: Tricks of the Trade.

BACKGROUND: The presence of postoperative bile leak is the major outcome measure for the assessment of operative success in partial cystectomy for hydatid liver disease. However, the optimal operative strategy to reduce the postoperative bile leak rate is yet to be defined. METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent partial cystectomy for hydatid liver disease between January 2013 and January 2015 were reviewed in this retrospective analysis. All patients were managed with a specific operative protocol. The primary outcome measure was the rate of persistent postoperative bile leak. The secondary outcome measures were the morbidity and mortality rate, and the length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were included in the study. Only one patient (3.6 %) developed persistent postoperative bile leak. The overall morbidity and mortality rate was 17.8 and 0 %, respectively. The median length of hospital stay was 5 days. CONCLUSION: Aggressive preventative surgical measures have led to low persistent bile leak rates with low morbidity and mortality.

Surgical management of hydatid liver disease.

BACKGROUND: large retrospective clinical study describing the long-term experience of a single center in the surgical management of liver echinococcosis in an endemic area. METHODS: 232 patients were operated for liver hydatid disease between 1978 and 2012. Seventy-three patients (Group A) underwent a radical procedure (total pericystectomy or hepatectomy), while 145 (Group B) were treated with a more conservative method (partial cystectomy, with external drainage, omentoplasty or capitonnage) and 14 (Group C) received a combination of total and partial cystectomies. Morbidity, mortality, post-operative complications and recurrence rates in the long-term setting were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Group A patients were treated with zero mortality and a morbidity rate of 10.95%. No recurrence was documented. In Group B, mortality reached 2.76%, (p = 0.153 compared to Group A) morbidity 24.13% (p = 0.021) and there were 10 cases of relapse (6.9%) at three-year complete follow-up (p = 0.989). Extrahepatic sites of disease were not uncommon. DISCUSSION: radical surgical procedures were better tolerated by patients and yielded better results in terms of recurrence rates.

Liver transplantation for alveolar echinococcosis in an endemic region.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a chronic disease caused by ingestion of the eggs of the parasitic cestode Echinococcosis multilocularis (EM). In severe cases, liver transplantation (LT) may represent the only possibility of survival and cure. Patients undergoing LT associated with hepatic AE at our institution between April 2011 and October 2014 were investigated retrospectively. The clinical findings of the 27 patients who participated in the study were noted. Kaplan-Meier and chi-square tests were used to investigate the effect of these characteristics on survival and mortality. Living donor LT was performed on 20 patients (74.1%), and deceased donor LT was performed on 7 patients (25.9%). Hilar invasion was the most common indication (14 patients, 51.9%) for transplantation. The patient follow-up was 16.1 ± 11.4 months, and the overall survival rate was 77.8%. Primary nonfunction developed only in 2 patients in the posttransplantation period. Six patients died during monitoring, the most common cause of death being sepsis (3 patients). The relationship between the mortality rate of the patients and the invasion of the bile duct and/or portal vein by alveolar lesions was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.024 and P = 0.043, respectively). According to PNM staging, when the AE disease exceeds the resectability limits, the only alternative for the treatment of the disease is LT. However, different from LT due to cirrhosis, it is extremely difficult to perform a transplantation for AE disease because of the invasive characteristics of it. In order to decrease the difficulty of the operation and the postoperative mortality, the intracystic abscess and cholangitis which occur because of AE must be treated via medical and percutaneous methods before transplantation.

Living donor liver transplantation for Echinococcus Alveolaris: single-center experience.

Echinococcus alveolaris (EA) causes a hepatic zoonotic infection and behaves like a malignant tumor during invasion. Liver transplantation (LT) is the only curative treatment option for this unresectable disease. Here, we share our experience with living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) due to EA from the time between March 2002 and November 2014 at the Liver Transplantation Institute of Inönü University. Ten patients (mean age, 38.6 years) undergoing LDLT because of unresectable EA were evaluated preoperatively, and the operative and follow-up data were analyzed retrospectively. The mean time interval between diagnosis and LT was 27 months. The mean operation time and mean intraoperative blood requirement were 613 minutes and 4 units of packed red blood cells, respectively. Diaphragmatic resections were performed in 3 patients, and vena cava replacement was performed in 2 patients because of difficulties in removing the extended disease. The local recurrence and distant metastasis rates were 10% and 20%, respectively. The mean survival time was 19.5 months (range, 0-54 months), and the mortality rate was 30%. Unresectable hepatic alveolar echinococcosis is a rare indication for LT and presents some technical difficulties during surgery because diaphragmatic resection, vascular reconstruction, or multiple blood transfusions may be needed. LDLT can be performed successfully in patients with this rare infectious disease, with careful follow-up for potential recurrence and metastasis and administration of low-dose immunosuppressive agents.

Late biliary complications in human alveolar echinococcosis are associated with high mortality.

AIM: To evaluate the incidence of late biliary complications in non-resectable alveolar echinococcosis (AE) under long-term chemotherapy with benzimidazoles. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of AE patients with biliary complications occurring more than three years after the diagnosis of AE. We compared characteristics of patients with and without biliary complications, analyzed potential risk factor for biliary complications and performed survival analyses. RESULTS: Ninety four of 148 patients with AE in Zurich had non-resectable AE requiring long-term benzimidazole chemotherapy, of which 26 (28%) patients developed late biliary complications. These patients had a median age of 55.5 (35.5-65) years at diagnosis of AE and developed biliary complications after 15 (8.25-19) years of chemotherapy. The most common biliary complications during long-term chemotherapy were late-onset cholangitis (n = 14), sclerosing cholangitis-like lesions (n = 8), hepatolithiasis (n = 5), affection of the common bile duct (n = 7) and secondary biliary cirrhosis (n = 7). Thirteen of the 26 patients had undergone surgery (including 12 resections) before chemotherapy. Previous surgery was a risk factor for late biliary complications in linear regression analysis (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Late biliary complications can be observed in nearly one third of patients with non-resectable AE, with previous surgery being a potential risk factor. After the occurrence of late biliary complications, the median survival is only 3 years, suggesting that late biliary complications indicate a poor prognostic outcome.

[Liver resections as radical surgery for hepatic hydatidosis: results in 50 patients]. / Resultados de las resecciones hepáticas como tratamiento radical de la hidatidosis hepatica en 50 pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: Among several regions in the world hepatic hydatidosis can be considered endemic. Currently there are many available treatments for this disease, been surgery the most effective one. Surgical procedures can be divided in two main groups, radical and non-radical procedures. The goal of this work is to evaluate the morbidity, mortality and percentage of recurrence in patients treated with hepatectomies, comparing them with other publications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out in a series from Spain and Argentina. We analyzed the following data: sex, age, type of resection, associated surgical gestures, presence of liver disease, operative time, blood transfusion, morbidity, mortality, hospital stay, re-hospitalization, recurrence and follow up. Dindo--Clavien classification was used for complications, and International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) Brisbane classification for hepatectomies. Mortality was considered until 90 days after surgery. To evaluate the recurence we only included patients followed over 6 months. RESULTS: Indications for liver resections were performed in patients with cysts larger than 5 centimeters, multiple cysts, large cysts, with bile duct communicated or suspicion of this communication. Five patients required blood transfusions (10%) with a median for these 5 patients of 740 ml and 74 ml for the complete series. The median operative time was 186 minutes (range 45 to 1,050 minutes). Median hospital stay was 7.7 days. Monitoring more than 6 months was conducted in 38 patients. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that hepatic hydatid disease is a multifaceted disease and requires more than one therapeutic approach. Hepatectomy with complete resection of the parasite offers the possibility of doing so in a controlled and safe way by experienced hands, ensuring good results in the treatment of this disease.