Laparoscopic treatment of liver hydatid cysts

Abstract EN

Objective: In the era of laparoscopic surgery, and in the last decade, attempts have been made to treat liver cysts laparoscopically.

The aim of this study was to evaluate our experience in laparoscopically treated liver hydatid cysts at King Hussein Medical Center.

Methods: Between January 2002 and December 2004, nineteen patients between the ages of 10 to 67 years underwent laparoscopic treatment of liver hydatid disease in the Department of General Surgery, King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan.

Cystotomy and partial cystectomy or deroofing with drainage were performed.

The clinicopathologic features, morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay and conversions to laparotomy were recorded.

Results: The mean operative time was 80 minutes (range, 40-180 minutes).

One patient was converted to open surgery; the mean hospital stay was 5 days (range, 3-12 days); morbidity occurred in two patients.

There were no deaths, and no recurrences were observed during this period.

Conclusion: Laparoscopic treatment of hepatic hydatid cyst is a safe and effective procedure in selected patients; however, further studies should be conducted in this field because there is no universally accepted technique.