Hydatid cyst: open or laparoscopic approach? A retrospective analysis

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the reliability and feasibility of the laparoscopic approach in hydatid cyst cystectomy.

A retrospective review of the medical records of 21 patients diagnosed with hydatid cyst disease between July 1999 and January 2011 was conducted at Van State Hospital and Toyota Emergency Hospital. Two patients with calcified cysts were excluded. Hydatid cystectomy was performed by laparoscopy (LC) in 7 patients and by laparotomy (OC) in 12 patients. The preoperative and postoperative parameters were compared.

There were 11 female (52.3%) and 8 male (47.7%) patients with a mean age of 31.7 years (range, 14 to 50 y). The mean duration of hospitalization was 4.8 days (range, 2 to 15 d). Recurrence was not seen in any cases in both groups. The morbidity rates of LC and OC were 14.2% and 33.3%, respectively. The most frequent postoperative complications were wound infections (1 case in LC and 3 cases in OC), hemorrhage (1 patient in the OC group), and hernia (as the late complication in 2 patients in the OC group). The operation success was graded as excellent in 18 patients and good in 1 patient.

The laparoscopic technique is an easy-to-apply, safe, and effective method to conduct liver and spleen hydatid cyst surgery. This technique can be used in patients with unique, small-sized, superficially located cysts, and also has the advantages of other abdominal laparoscopic operations.