PULMONARY HYDATID CYST DISEASE IN SOUTH OF IRAQ:SHORT TERM OUTCOME AFTER SURGICAL INTERVENTION

Objective: To discuss the clinical presentation, diagnosis, surgical treatment and outcome of 300 patients.Methodology: A retrospective study of 300 patients with pulmonary hydatid cyst disease was conducted, who were treated surgically at cardiothoracic surgical department in Basra teaching hospital from June 2005 to June 2011. The records of all patients were reviewed taking in account the complete clinical history, clinical examination and chest radiology. All the patients were treated surgically. Result: There were 225 (75%) patients of age, 18 years and above, with 149 (66%) males and 76 (34%) females, while 75 (25%) patients were below 18 years of age, including 36 (48%) boys and 39 (52%) girls. The cough was the common presenting symptom (56.6%). Chest radiology was diagnostic in 95.7% of patients, the right lung was the common site (60%), and 20% presented with associated extrpulmonary hydatid cysts. Only 12.3% have postoperative complications. Conclusion: Surgery is the treatment of choice for pulmonary hydatid cysts, with very low mortality and morbidity