Dual treatment of albendazole in hepatic hydatidosis: New therapeutic modality in 52 cases

• Published in: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 421 - 425
• Main Authors: POLAT, CAFER, DERVISOGLU, ADEM, HOKELEK, MURAT, YETIM, IBRAHIM, BUYUKKARABACAK, YALCIN, OZKUTUK, YASIN, ERZURUMLU, KENAN
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Science Pty 01-03-2005; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; albendazole; Albendazole - administration & dosage; Albendazole - therapeutic use; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Anticestodal Agents - administration & dosage; Anticestodal Agents - therapeutic use; Antiparasitic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Combined Modality Therapy; Diseases caused by cestodes; Drug Administration Routes; dual treatment; Echinococcoses; Echinococcosis, Hepatic - drug therapy; Echinococcosis, Hepatic - surgery; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Helminthic diseases; Humans; hydatid disease; Infectious diseases; Intraoperative Period; Laparoscopy - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Parasitic diseases; Perioperative Care; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Postoperative Period; Retrospective Studies; Suction; Treatment Outcome; Anthelmintic; dual treatment; Liver; Parasitosis; hydatid disease; Hydatid cyst; Helminthiasis; Cestode disease; Infection; Albendazole; Treatment; Benzimidazole derivatives; Parasiticide; Echinococciasis
• ISSN: 0815-9319; 1440-1746
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2004.03535.x

Background:  Hepatic hydatidosis still remains as a serious problem in general surgery. Recurrence and/or secondary hydatidosis rates are up to 25% in the cases treated with surgery alone. Albendazole is the most commonly used drug in the medical treatment of echinococcosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of albendazole using the intraoperative and perioperative periods as dual therapy.
Methods:  Fifty‐two cases of hepatic hydatidosis were evaluated and treated by dual treatment of albendazole together with surgery. Perioperative albendazole treatment was given in a dose of 12–15 mg/kg per day in four divided doses. The treatment started 2–28 days before the surgery when the diagnosis was established and continued for 2–24 months (4.76 ± 3.25) postoperatively in a cyclic monthly form. A total of 1.7 µg/mL albendazole solution was used as a protoscolicidal agent in the cystic cavity intraoperatively. In the postoperative period serology, ultrasonography and computed tomography evaluations were done. The follow‐up period was 5–92 months (mean: 62.48 months).
Results:  There was no recurrence in the present study. One patient died in the 6th postoperative week due to cerebral hydatidosis and multiple organ failure. Early and late morbidity rates were 7.69 and 9.61%, respectively.
Conclusions:  Dual albendazole treatment is effective in the prevention of recurrences and/or secondary hydatidosis.