Encountering the unknown: anesthetic management of a rare case of massive abdominopelvic hydatid cyst – a case report

Background: Hydatid disease is a zoonosis caused by parasitic tapeworms of Echinococcus spp. The two most frequently impacted organs are the liver and lungs. Disseminated hydatid disease, presenting as a massive abdominopelvic cyst with accompanying cysts in the lungs, is very rare, as most patients usually have fatal anaphylaxis due to cyst rupture during disease progression. Case Report: We report the successful anesthetic management of a 24-year-old patient with a massive abdominopelvic hydatid cyst. She underwent exploratory laparotomy for evacuation of cysts under general anesthesia. Conclusions: Anesthetic management of patients with abdominopelvic hydatid cysts undergoing cystectomy is challenging. It involves taking into account the patient’s clinical status, prevention and prompt management of anaphylaxis and control of hemodynamic disturbances during cyst evacuation.