[Minimally invasive treatment of pulmonary and pleural hydatid cyst]

The incidence of hydatid disease is increased in Balkan region and Eastern Europe. The global incidence in Romania is 5-6 cases of 100,000 populations. The etiological agent is Taenia echinococcus. The pulmonary localization is about 30% from all cases with hydatic disease. The only efficient treatment is represented by surgical intervention with minimal visceral and parietal destruction. We will present 4 cases with pulmonary and pleural hydatic cysts that were treated with minimally invasive techniques. New minimally invasive approaches are developed to reduce physical discomfort, to offer a better intraoperative visibility, for the esthetic aspect of incisions, shorten hospitalization and quick socio-professional reintegration. The mean duration of hospitalization in these 4 cases was 8.5 days (limits between 7-12 days). The rate of complication and the necessary of analgesics were reduced. The medical treatment with Albendazole 10 mg/kg/day, 14 days in preoperative and 3 months postoperative period was followed in all patients. After discharge, imaging evaluation in the first 24 months is very important. The obtained results were excellent and we conclude that minimally invasive surgery in pulmonary hydatid disease represent a better method of surgical treatment.