Hydatid cyst of lung and liver: Single stage management

A 30 year female presented with history of pain abdomen, abdominal distension since six months, diagnosed to have huge hydatid cysts both in right lung and liver. It is unusual to find such large cysts at multiple sites and organs as in this case. There are reports in the literature of staged management as well as simultaneous management of lung and liver hydatid cysts. Though concomitant cysts in right lung and subphrenic liver may be treated comfortably by one stage surgery of and ldquo;right thoracotomy with phrenotomy and rdquo;, here both cysts were enucleated in the same sitting by a combined thoracic and abdominal approach (thoracotomy followed by laparotomy), as cysts were deep in the visceral parenchyma away from diaphragm. The technique is safe and results were comparable to two stage surgery. Albendazole treatment in post-operative period probably helps to prevent recurrence. This report emphasizes that surgical intervention for hydatid cysts at multiple sites done in a single stage is safe, lessens the financial burden and hospital stay by avoiding multiple anesthesia and surgeries.