A rare cause of acute abdomen: Spontaneous intraperitoneal hydatid cyst rupture

Gonderilme tarihi: 21.07.2014 Kabul tarihi: 22.10.2014 Abstract Human hydatid disease usually occurs by infestation with Echinococcus granulosus or rarely with Echinococcus multilocularis. Hydatid cyst occurs endemically in the Mediterranean region including Turkey. It’s still an important public health problem in Turkey. We present a case report of an 84-year-old female patient who presented to the emergency department beause of the nauseavomitting, abdomial pain and a decreased level of consciousness. Her physical examination findings were as follows: pulse 112/ dk, blood pressure 84/ 47 mm Hg, body temperature 38,1 oC. Abdominal tomography showed a ruptured hydatid cyst and intraperitoneal fluid. Rupture of a hydatid cyst into the abdominal cavity is a rare complication of the hydatid disease and leads to a full blown anaphylactic reaction and severe, life-threatening complications. The relationship between the cysts with the blood vessels and the bile ducts; and the conditions, in which the patient presented at the emergency department, are other parameters affecting the surgery outcome and type. However, a high rate of morbidity and mortality is usually encountered in ruptured cyst hydatid cases.