Surgical treatment of liver echinococcosis--the role of laparoscopy.

BACKGROUND

The surgical approach to liver echinococcosis is still a controversial issue. This study shows our results of surgical treatment of liver hydatid cysts during a 5-year period.

METHODS

A prospective study of 21 patients operated on in a 5-year period (1999-2003), in Dubrava University Hospital in Zagreb, Croatia, with hepatic hydatid cyst. All patients were pre-operatively treated with albendazole. In 12 patients, total pericystectomy without opening the cyst cavity was performed, 9 open and 3 laparoscopic. In the other 9 patients, partial pericystectomy was done, 6 open and 3 laparoscopic.

RESULTS

There was no mortality after 5-65 months follow-up, but in 1 patient, in the open partial pericystectomy group, recurrence of the disease occurred after 3 years. When a laparoscopic procedure was done, there were no complications or recurrence. The median operative duration for open surgery was 100.0 min (range 60.0-210.0), and for laparoscopic surgery 67.5 min (range 60.0-120.0). The median length of hospitalisation for open surgery was 8.0 days (range 7.0-14.0), and for laparoscopic surgery 5.0 days (range 4.0-7.0).

CONCLUSION

Total pericystectomy without opening the cyst cavity, preceded by pre-operative albendazole therapy is the method of choice for hepatic hydatid cyst treatment. Despite the small group of patients, our first results show laparoscopic total pericystectomy without opening the cyst cavity, in the treatment of hepatic hydatid cyst, as a good alternative to open surgery in selected patients.