Laparoscopic surgery of hepatic hydatid disease: initial results and early follow-up of 16 patients.

Surgery is the main modality in the treatment of hepatic hydatid disease. In this report, a laparoscopic surgical method is described, and the results in the first 16 cases are presented. The method involves the use of an aspirator-grinder apparatus that achieves effective evacuation of viable cyst contents with the patient benefiting from the laparoscopic approach. Cavity infection occurred in two patients and was treated conservatively. In another patient, postoperative ultrasonography revealed a thick-walled cavity containing a dense fluid. Because the patient was symptomatic, pericystectomy was performed during the sixth postoperative month. Early postoperative parameters and the early follow-up results in other patients (2-17 months) are encouraging. The method is particularly suitable for uncomplicated, early-stage cysts located in laparoscopically accessible locations.