Abstract

Hydatidosis is and endemic disease in the south of Chile, especially in Region IX where remain rates of high prevalence. Cholangiohydatidosis is an infrequent complication of liver hydatidosis. The objective of this paper is to describe clinical features of a series of patients with cholangiohydatidosis. Series of cases of cholangiohydatidosis treated consecutively and the corresponding follow-up is reported. Clinical, laboratory and images characteristics are described. Descriptive statistic was used and its incidence was calculated. In the studied period, 13 patients with cholangiohydatidosis were recruited, 9 men (69.2%) and 4 women (30.7%). Observed laboratory abnormalities were an increment of leukocytes in 8 patients (61.5%) and hepatic cholestasis with hepatocyte signs of cytolysis in 11 patients (84.6%). Choledocus diameter average measured by ultrasonography was 24,7 mm. All the patients had at least one liver cyst whose diameter average was of 12.1 cm. At surgery, evidence of biliary communications was detected in all patients and biliary decompression was carried out through a choledocostomy in 12 patients (92.3%) and by choledocoduodenal anastomoses in one case (7.7%). With a mean follow-up of 38.7 months morbility was 23% and mortality 7.7%. Accumulated incidence of this entity was of 0.07 cases in 5 years. Cholangiohydatidosis is an uncommon complication of liver hydatidosis that presents considerable morbidity and mortality rates.