Long term results after complete or incomplete surgical resection of liver hydatid disease

The liver is the organ most frequently infected by hydatid disease and medical therapy alone is ineffective in eliminating the parasite. Surgical options vary from complete resection (e.g. total pericystectomy or hepatectomy) to limited procedures (e.g. percutaneous aspiration or unroofing of cysts). The aim of this study was to determine the long-term outcome after complete or partial resection of liver hydatid cysts.

Between 1980 and 1996, 78 patients were operated upon at our institution for liver hydatid cysts. In Group 1, complete resection was achieved in 57 patients (73 %), whereas in Group 2, incomplete resection was performed in 21 patients (27 %), due to multiplicity, bilaterality of cysts or close contact between a cyst and portal or hepatic veins. The post-operative morbidity in Groups 1 and 2, was 31 % and 47 % (N.S.), respectively. Mean duration of hospital stay was 17 and 26 days (p=0.004), respectively. Recurrence rate of hydatid disease after a mean follow-up of 6.6 years was 0 % and 12% (N.S.), respectively. There was no mortality in either group.

Complete surgical resection of hepatic hydatid disease should be attempted whenever possible. Our results, with a mean follow-up of 6.6 years, indicate limited post-operative debilitating complications, low recurrence rate and no mortality.