Internal drainage in the treatment of intrabiliary communication of hydatid cyst of the liver.

In a series of 38 cases of liver hydatid disease, intrabiliary communication occurred in 19 patients (50%), five (13.2%) of whom had frank communication (with main bile duct) and 14 (36.8%) occult communication (with minor bile duct). While various operative procedures were adopted in dealing with the cyst, all 14 patients with the occult communication had evacuation of the cyst contents. In four of them, this was followed by external drainage, where bile continued to be drained for a period of 3 to 8 months. And in the other ten patients, internal drainage using cystojejunostomy was carried out. This procedure proved to be satisfactory, useful and safe. Five (35.7%) of 14 patients developed postoperative complications; there were no operative mortalities.