Hydatid disease at Royal North Shore Hospital: results of surgical treatment.

A study of the results of surgery for hydatid disease was undertaken at Royal North Shore Hospital for the period 1966-83. There were 51 patients who underwent surgery for this disease and follow-up was obtained in all but eight cases. Comparison of cumulative survivals for this group with that of a matched Australian population showed that patients undergoing surgical treatment of their hydatid can anticipate a normal life expectancy. There was no evidence that patients with extrahepatic disease fared any worse than those with disease confined to the liver. Documented recurrence of hydatid disease occurred in eight cases following surgery and only one patient actually died from hydatid disease. This was a case in which spillage occurred at the initial procedure. This paper is presented as a reminder that hydatid disease still occurs with sufficient frequency to pose therapeutic problems for surgeons. Whilst total eradication of the parasite will only occur with enforcement of public health measures, surgery would still appear to be effective therapy for established hydatid disease so long as care is taken to avoid cyst rupture.