Case report: Percutaneous treatment of multiple honeycomb-like liver hydatid cysts (type III CE2, according to WHO classification)

Percutaneous treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis: the success of alcohol as a single endocavitary agent in PAIR, catheterization, and modified catheterization techniques

OBJECTIVES

This retrospective study aims at demonstrating the success rate, effectiveness, and advantages of alcohol as a scolicidal and sclerosing agent for the percutaneous treatment of liver hydatid cysts.

METHODS

A total of 554 liver hydatid cysts obtained from 347 patients admitted between January 2008 and February 2016 were retrospectively investigated. Of these, 435 (78.5%), 91 (16.4%), and 28 (5%) were classified as Gharbi type 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Type 1 and 2 cysts were treated using PAIR (puncture, aspiration, injection, respiration) and single puncture catheterization methods; type 3 lesions were treated using a modified catheterization technique. Alcohol was used as a scolicidal and sclerosing agent in all procedures.

RESULTS

After excluding three lesions (0.5%) because of lack of parenchymal support during catheterization, 274 (49.7%), 250 (45.3%), and 27 (4.9%) of 551 lesions were treated with PAIR, single puncture catheterization, and modified catheterization techniques, respectively. Therefore, a 99.5% of technical success rate was obtained. Major complications in 2 patients (0.5%) and minor complications were observed in 36 patients (10.3%). Mean hospital stay was 1.55±2.3 days (range: 0-23 days). Patients were followed-up for mean 19.6 months (range: 6-83 months), during which recurrences were detected in 19 patients (5.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of alcohol as a scolicidal and sclerosing agent during the percutaneous treatment of liver hydatid cysts is associated with a high success rate and low rates of recurrence and complications, and should be considered an important alternative to surgical procedures.

Long-Term Results of Percutaneous Management of Liver Hydatid Cysts: - Experience of a University Hospital in Endemic Region

Background and objective: Surgery was considered for years the standard treatment for all stages of liver hydatid cysts (LHC). Percutaneous treatment has becomes a fast, reliable and more efficient method in selected cases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous treatment of LHC on the basis of our department long-term results. Patients and Methods: This study includes all patients who benefited from percutaneous treatment for LHC from December 1998 to April 2012. Puncture aspiration, injection, and re-aspiration (PAIR) were used for hydatid cysts smaller than 6 cm. Larger cysts, infected cysts and those with biliary fistula were treated by puncture associated to drainage (PA-PD). Absolute alcohol was used as sclerosing agent. Reduction of the size of the cyst more than 50%, pseudo-tumour echo pattern and disappearance of the cyst at the follow-up were retained as criteria of treatment efficacy. Results: Two hundred thirty patients (136 female and 94 male; mean age: 35 years old) with 278 LHC underwent percutaneous treatment. Mean initial cyst diameter was 76.8 mm [20-180 mm]. According to Gharbi's classification, types I and II LHC accounted for 74% and 25% respectively. Fourteen patients (6%) presented with an infected cavity and 27 patients (12%) had a biliary fistula at diagnosis (12%). PA-PD was initially performedin 23 patients. No mortality, abdominal dissemination, or tract seeding occurred. Minor complications like urticaria, cutaneous rash and fever were reported in 24 patients (10%). One case of anaphylactic shock was reported with good evolution. Mean hospitalization time was 3 days ± 1.5 for uncomplicated cases and 16.5 days± 4.2 for complicated cases. 229 out of 230 patients were cured, whereas one recurrence has been reported. Conclusion: Percutaneous treatmentis efficient and safe and offers complete cure in selected patients with the advantage of short hospitalization. Keywords: Drainage, Hydatid Cyst, Liver, Morocco, Percutaneous Puncture, Ultrasound (US)