Echoguided pair technique in diagnosis and treat-ment of abdominal hydatid cystic disease in Egyptian patients: clnical and ultrasonographic follow up.

The introduction of the percutaneous puncture, aspiration, injection of scolecidal agent and reaspiration (PAIR) technique is gaining an increasing acceptance in diagnosis and treatment of abdominal cystic hydatid disease (CHD). Thirty-three patients (12 male & 21 female with age between 15 and 70 years) had 46 cysts in liver, spleen and kidneys (75.7%, 18.2% & 6.1% respectively). Puncture, aspiration, injection of 95% sterile alcohol for 20 minutes and reaspiration (PAIR) was used for treatment of hydatid cysts of different types and sizes. Follow up both clinically and ultrasonographically was done over a period of 2 years. The commonest ultrasound picture was type la (overall echofree) in 80.4%, commonly in the liver (75.7%) mainly in the right lobe (88%). Improvement of symptoms had occurred its 85% within 3 weeks. As regards ultrasound follow up of 41 non-complicated cysts within the 1st six months, was disappearance of 5 cysts, 34 reduced in size and 36 showed different grades of solidification. After 1.5 year 10 more cysts disappeared while the pseudotumour appearance was shown in remaining 26 cysts. Ultrasound follow up of the 5 infected cysts revealed complete cure within a period of 8-16 weeks in 4 of them. The last patient discontinued drainage therapy and was referred to surgery. This makes ultrasound cure reaching 97%. Minor complications were skin reaction only in 2 patients (6%). No fatal anaphylaxis cyst recurrence or rupture into the peritoneal cavity or bleeding from renal or splenic puncturing. PAIR technique under ultrasonographic guidance is the first choice method for treatment of abdominal CHD especially in the developing countries and inoperable hydatid cysts.