From the Department oj'Thoracic Surgel)l, Modarres University Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University oj'Medica/ Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (5831 Views)
Iran is recognized as an endemic area for lung hydatidosis. Surgical removal of
some hydatid cysts may have setious morbid consequences. To determine the characteristics
of these special cysts, a retrospective survey was carried out on patients admitted
to Modarres Hospital in Tehran between 1989 and 1998. We have found that
ruptured, bilateral, lung located, and giant cysts (> ] 0 cm) cause more surgical and
anesthetic complications, thus we named them "complicated cysts".
Of 110 patients, 62(56.4%) had complicated hydatid cysts. Of these, 2 individuals
died during anesthesia induction because of hypoxemia. Since sudden severe hypoxemia
did not respond to all essential measures, the patients were returned to the
supine position (from lateral decubitus position), then rigid bronchoscopy was performed
for drainage of cyst secretions and fragments of laminated membrane.
At the time of induction of anesthesia, the contents of a ruptured cyst may spill into
the airway and cause hypoxemia and even death. In order to prevent this complication,
two different approaches were used: (l)A chest tube was introduced into the cyst
through the chest wall and its contents were drained (2) Patients were placed in the
sitting position during intubation.
Double lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) may allow salvage of unaffected lung from
inadvertent leakage of cyst contents or laminated membrane emboli formation, but it
does not guarantee a safe operation. Thus, rigid bronchoscopy should always be available.
Cystostomy was the most common surgical technique performed in our center
(80%). Massive air leakage, bronchial fistula, and permanent lobar collapse were the
main indications for lung resection in our series. Surgical complication rates of our study
were higher than reports from the west.
Coordination and cooperation of experienced surgeons and anesthetists can result
in better outcomes following complicated cyst removal.