Surgical management and long-term outcome of complicated liver hydatid cysts caused by Echinococcus granulosus

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate clinical presentation and long-term outcome of patients treated surgically for complicated liver hydatid cysts.

Eighty-four patients with liver hydatid cysts underwent an operation at the Geneva University Hospital between 1980 and 1999. Clinical presentation, postoperative morbidity, mortality, and long-term recurrence rate were evaluated.

Among the 84 patients with liver hydatid disease, 35 patients (41%) presented complicated cysts (ie, cysts that had developed a fistula into adjacent structures or organs). In most patients, the fistula communicated with the biliary tree (n = 25), but we also observed communication with the right lung (n = 3), the right diaphragm (n = 2), liver parenchyma (n = 1), and peritoneal cavity (n = 1). Complete removal of the cystic disease was possible in 24 of 35 patients (70%). In 11 patients, fragments of cysts were not removed because of their location adjacent to main vessels. Postoperatively, 8 patients (23%) developed a severe complication (grade II and III). There were no postoperative deaths, and no recurrences of hydatid disease were observed with a median follow-up of 8.6 years (complete follow-up was obtained in 69% of patients).

Complicated liver hydatid disease is frequent and was observed in almost half of patients operated for liver hydatid cysts at our center. Using a surgical strategy aimed at complete removal of cystic and pericystic tissue with simultaneous treatment of the fistulous tract, we observed 23% postoperative morbidity, no mortality, and no recurrence of disease with a median follow-up of >8 years.