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Objective: To report our experience of surgical procedures in the management of hydatid cysts of the lung and to assess the effect of postoperative chemotherapy. Subjects and Methods: In a longitudinal cohort study, 64 consecutive patients who presented with hydatid cysts of the lung from 1994 to 1998 were included. The main measures were: characteristics on presentation, operative techniques, postoperative morbidity, and the outcome of treatment. The mean age was 28 years (range 4–65 years). The most common symptoms were cough, chest pain, fever, and hemoptysis. Chest radiographs and computed tomograms were the main method of diagnosis. Pulmonary cystotomy and capitonnage were performed in 46 patients. Pulmonary resection was needed in 8 of 64 patients. Simultaneous combined resection of hydatid cysts through thoracotomy with transdiaphragmatic removal of liver cysts was performed in one stage in 13 patients. Results: Chest radiographs and CT scans showed a smoothly outlined spherical opacity in 45 patients. Other radiographic findings included ill-defined shadow (in 8 patients), pleural effusion (7 patients), air fluid level (3 patients), and hydropneumothorax in a single patient. There were 8 (12.5%) cases of immediate postoperative complications. These occurred mostly in patients who had cysts larger than 10 cm (p = 0.003). Thirty-four patients were treated by a 3-month course of albendazole chemotherapy. Four patients (6%) had recurrences of the disease during the follow-up period. These recurrences occurred in patients with large cysts >10 cm (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Conservative surgical methods are the preferred surgical techniques. Postoperative chemotherapy with albendazole for 3 months is recommended.

IntroductionProsthetic valve thrombosis is a rare but life-threatening condition that requires careful evaluation and prompt treatment. While surgical intervention remains the gold standard, thrombolytic therapy is now emerging as a potential substitute. Various thrombolytic treatments including streptokinase, urokinase and recombinant tissue plasminogen activators have been reported with variable success rates. However, the data on the use of tenecteplase (a synthetic tissue plasminogen activator) is limited.Case presentationA 44-year-old Middle Eastern man with a previously implanted prosthetic mitral valve presented with exertional dyspnea and orthopnea. Investigations revealed a thrombosed prosthetic mitral valve. Successful thrombolysis was achieved using tenecteplase which lead to the complete restoration of valve function with no risk to the patient.ConclusionProsthetic valve thrombosis is a rare but life threatening condition, the diagnosis of which requires a high index of suspicion. Tenecteplase can be used successfully in the management of such cases. It has proved to be useful with no extra risk to the patient.