Palliative Operation for the Treatment of Alveolar Echinococcosis

Overview

Journal Langenbecks Arch Surg

Specialty General Surgery

Date 2008 Jun 26

PMID 18575882

Citations 12

Authors

Klaus Buttenschoen

Beate Gruener

Daniela Carli Buttenschoen

Stefan Reuter

Doris Henne-Bruns

Peter Kern

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization guidelines recommend radical hepatic resection for definite treatment of alveolar echinococcosis (AE), because it can cure the patient. However, parasitic masses are not entirely removable in about 70% of patients. Even so, palliative resections are carried out, although cure cannot be achieved. As conservative treatment has improved, the role of palliative surgical procedures has to be redefined.

Methods: Critical appraisal of published reports on palliative resections for AE and estimation of the level of evidence and grade of recommendation.

Results: Prospective randomized trials comparing palliative resections, radical resections, and conservative treatment are lacking. Most papers analyzed case series retrospectively. The number of palliative operations is significant. In the past, palliative resections were recommended in order to enhance anthelminthic drug efficacy but advances in conservative and interventional treatment improved the prognosis of AE. Prolonged survival by systematic palliative resections is not evident. However, palliative surgery is an option to treat persistent bacterial infection, fistulas, and obstructing or compressing masses. The indication is based on individual considerations and decisions.

Conclusion: Curative surgery for AE is feasible if parasitic tissue is entirely removable. The benefit of palliative resections is uncertain because long-term results of conservative treatment are favorable. Palliative surgery is an option for complications not being manageable otherwise.

Citing Articles

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Study on the Effect of Quasi-Radical Lesion Resection on the Quality of Life of Patients With Advanced Hepatic Alveolar Echinococcosis.

A J, Chai J, Guo W, Zhao S, Wang H, A X Front Surg. 2022; 8:821373.

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