[Surgical treatment of hydatid cysts with large biliocystic fistula in conservative strategy].

Introduction: the treatment of large biliocystic fistulas is not unanimous among authors in the absence of consensus or a high level of evidence. There is a controversy over the use of a radical approach which allows the fistula to be sutured in a healthy area or conservative treatment that poses repair issues. The purpose of this study is to compare different conservative techniques to treat large biliocystic fistulas.

Methods: we conducted a retrospective study of 54 patients with large fistulas in the Department of General Surgery at the Habib Bourguiba University Hospital in Sfax over a period of 9 years (2010 - 2018).

Results: fourty-four patients were enrolled in the study. Abdominal ultrasound suggested opening of the bile ducts in 18 cases (47.4%) while computed tomography (CT) scan suggested opening in 28 patients (68.3%). The treatment of fistulas was based on DITFO (internal trans-fistulary drainage) in 18 cases (33.3%), cystobiliary disconnection (PERDROMO) in 11 cases (20.4%) and bipolar drainage in 25 cases. Specific surgical morbidity rate was 31.5% and it was dominated by postoperative biliary fistula in 18.5% of cases. DITFO technique was associated with shorter hospital stay (p=0.028) and lower morbidity rates (22.2%) with no statistically significant difference.

Conclusion: DITFO technique is the gold standard technique in the treatment of biliocystic fistula because it is associated with lower morbidity rates and the shortest hospital stay.