Liver cystic echinococcosis: A retrospective study on the demographics and clinical profile of patients managed at a single tertiary institution in central Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Background. Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease with an Africa-wide prevalence of 1.7%. CE is caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, with the liver being the most commonly affected organ. In South Africa (SA), there is a paucity of data on liver CE demographics...
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South African Medical Association
2024-05-01
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| Series: | South African Medical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/2195 |
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| author | A Govindasamy P R Bhattarai J van Niekerk J John |
| author_facet | A Govindasamy P R Bhattarai J van Niekerk J John |
| author_sort | A Govindasamy |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Background. Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease with an Africa-wide prevalence of 1.7%. CE is caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, with the liver being the most commonly affected organ. In South Africa (SA), there is a paucity of data on liver CE demographics and management.
Objectives. To describe the demographics and clinical profile of patients with liver CE in a single tertiary hospital in Eastern Cape Province, SA.
Methods. A 4-year (2019 - 2022) retrospective clinical record review study was conducted on patients presenting with liver CE to the Department of Surgery at Frere Hospital. The demographics, clinical characteristics and management of patients with liver CE are reported.
Results. A total of 56 patients diagnosed with and managed for liver CE were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 37.5 years. Abdominal pain (n=39; 69.6%) was the most common presenting symptom, and a palpable abdominal mass (n=36; 64.3%) was the predominant presenting sign. Most patients had disease confined to the liver (n=35; 62.5%). The right lobe of the liver was most commonly affected (n=38; 67.9%), and most patients had a single liver cyst on imaging (n=32; 57.1%). The majority of the patients (n=36; 64.3%) were managed with surgical partial cystectomy, with a perioperative bile leak being the most common complication.
Conclusion. In our setting, liver CE contributes to a significant local burden of the disease. The disease often has a nonspecific clinical presentation, necessitating imaging for the diagnosis. We observed good short-term outcomes in patients managed with combined partial cystectomy and medical therapy, although there is a risk of perioperative bile leak.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-644c5a9a91c640818a9438fd51b99fde |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0256-9574 2078-5135 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
| publisher | South African Medical Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-644c5a9a91c640818a9438fd51b99fde2025-02-10T12:26:06ZengSouth African Medical AssociationSouth African Medical Journal0256-95742078-51352024-05-01114510.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i5.2195Liver cystic echinococcosis: A retrospective study on the demographics and clinical profile of patients managed at a single tertiary institution in central Eastern Cape Province, South AfricaA Govindasamy0P R Bhattarai1J van Niekerk2J John3Department of Surgery, Frere Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, East London, South AfricaDepartment of Surgery, Frere Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, East London, South AfricaDepartment of Surgery, Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, East London, South AfricaDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Frere Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, East London, South Africa; Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town, South Africa Background. Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease with an Africa-wide prevalence of 1.7%. CE is caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, with the liver being the most commonly affected organ. In South Africa (SA), there is a paucity of data on liver CE demographics and management. Objectives. To describe the demographics and clinical profile of patients with liver CE in a single tertiary hospital in Eastern Cape Province, SA. Methods. A 4-year (2019 - 2022) retrospective clinical record review study was conducted on patients presenting with liver CE to the Department of Surgery at Frere Hospital. The demographics, clinical characteristics and management of patients with liver CE are reported. Results. A total of 56 patients diagnosed with and managed for liver CE were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 37.5 years. Abdominal pain (n=39; 69.6%) was the most common presenting symptom, and a palpable abdominal mass (n=36; 64.3%) was the predominant presenting sign. Most patients had disease confined to the liver (n=35; 62.5%). The right lobe of the liver was most commonly affected (n=38; 67.9%), and most patients had a single liver cyst on imaging (n=32; 57.1%). The majority of the patients (n=36; 64.3%) were managed with surgical partial cystectomy, with a perioperative bile leak being the most common complication. Conclusion. In our setting, liver CE contributes to a significant local burden of the disease. The disease often has a nonspecific clinical presentation, necessitating imaging for the diagnosis. We observed good short-term outcomes in patients managed with combined partial cystectomy and medical therapy, although there is a risk of perioperative bile leak. https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/2195Liver cystic echinococcosis |
| spellingShingle | A Govindasamy P R Bhattarai J van Niekerk J John Liver cystic echinococcosis: A retrospective study on the demographics and clinical profile of patients managed at a single tertiary institution in central Eastern Cape Province, South Africa South African Medical Journal Liver cystic echinococcosis |
| title | Liver cystic echinococcosis: A retrospective study on the demographics and clinical profile of patients managed at a single tertiary institution in central Eastern Cape Province, South Africa |
| title_full | Liver cystic echinococcosis: A retrospective study on the demographics and clinical profile of patients managed at a single tertiary institution in central Eastern Cape Province, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Liver cystic echinococcosis: A retrospective study on the demographics and clinical profile of patients managed at a single tertiary institution in central Eastern Cape Province, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Liver cystic echinococcosis: A retrospective study on the demographics and clinical profile of patients managed at a single tertiary institution in central Eastern Cape Province, South Africa |
| title_short | Liver cystic echinococcosis: A retrospective study on the demographics and clinical profile of patients managed at a single tertiary institution in central Eastern Cape Province, South Africa |
| title_sort | liver cystic echinococcosis a retrospective study on the demographics and clinical profile of patients managed at a single tertiary institution in central eastern cape province south africa |
| topic | Liver cystic echinococcosis |
| url | https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/2195 |
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