Preoperative albendazole and scolices viability in patients with hepatic echinococcosis.

To determine the plasmatic and intracystal concentrations of albendazole sulfoxide (AS) and correlate them with the viability of the scolices in patients surgically treated for hepatic hydatid cysts (HHC) that received albendazole preoperatively, as an indirect way of evaluating the scolicide efficacy of the drug. A non-consecutive series of patients with uncomplicated HHC, underwent operation at the Department of Surgery, Regional Hospital of Temuco, Chile, between 2001 and 2002. The patients were given 10 mg/kg/day of albendazole for 4 days prior to the surgery.