[Pleural complications of pulmonary hydatid disease].

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hydatid disease encountered in Tunisia frequentely. Rupture of pulmonary cyst into the pleural cavity is rare, but represents the most serious complication of the hydatid disease.

AIM: We analyse clinical, radiologic and outcome of intrapleural rupture of lung hydatic cyst and evaluate our experience in the surgical treatment.

METHODS: We report 5 cases of rupture of rupture of pulmonary hydatid cyst into the pleural cavity hospitilazed during 1995 to 2010.

RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 22,4 years. Three patients presented with hydropneumothorax, one with spontaneous pneumothorax and one with haemoptysis. The diagnosis was determined peropreratively in the first case and based on radiographic and serology findings in the other cases. Surgical treatment consist on decortication and cystotomy with capitonnage in three cases, pleurectomy one and lobectomy in the other case. Post operative course was unventful in four cases, one patient had bronchopleural fistula, pneumothorax and wound infection (parietal abssess) resolved with local treatment. After surgery, all patients were treated in post operative by 3 months course with Albendazole chemotherapy with a favourable outcome.

CONCLUSION: Rupture of a pulmonary cyst into the pleural cavity is rare, but represents the most serious complication of the hydatid disease. The therapeutic progress has improved the prognosis of intrapleural ruptured hydatid cysts.