PAIR as percutaneous treatment of hydatid liver cysts.

Hydatid disease of the liver remains an important and challenging problem in rural areas; although, surgery is considered the treatment of choice, percutaneous treatment of hydatid cysts is relatively new, and the data related to it are limited. The purpose of the study was to present the results of percutaneous treatment of liver hydatid cysts. Thirty-four patients (13 male and 21 female), ranging in age between 14 and 80 years, with 55 liver hydatid cysts underwent percutaneous treatment with albendazole prophylaxis. Cysts were treated with a one-stage procedure that consisted of puncture of the cysts under guidance with computed tomography, aspiration of fluid, injection of hypertonic saline solution as scolicidal agent and reaspiration. Follow-up examinations showed progressive reduction and solidification of the cysts. The mean reduction in volume was 72%. No mortality, abdominal dissemination, or tract seeding occurred. Minor complications were urticaria with pruritus in two patients. One patient had a subcapusular hematoma without problem. Hospitalization courses varied from ambulatory procedures to 15 days of in-patient, mean hospital stay was 1.82 days. The results of percutaneous liver hydatid cyst treatment, indicating that the procedure is efficient and safe and offers complete cure in selected patients with a short hospitalization and that this technique should be considered an alternative to surgery.