Predictive Factors of Liver Hydatid Cyst Recurrence in Children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Infectious Diseases
• Hepatology

Background:

• Liver hydatid cyst is a significant cause of echinococcosis globally, affecting approximately 95% of cases.
• Despite surgical advancements, high recurrence rates persist, necessitating identification of predictive factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictive factors for liver hydatid cyst recurrence in pediatric patients post-surgery.
• To establish a treatment regimen to prevent postoperative morbidity.

Main Methods:

• A bi-centric retrospective descriptive and analytic study involved 122 children undergoing surgery for liver hydatid cysts (2009-2017).
• Factors potentially contributing to recurrence were investigated using SPSS.v21 with a significance level of p<0.05.
• Prognosis study, Level II evidence.

Main Results:

• Twenty out of 122 children (16.39%) experienced cyst recurrence, with a median time of 16.5 months.
• Abdominal ultrasonography proved effective in detecting recurrence.
• Predictive factors included cyst contact with large vessels, intraperitoneal effusion, bile duct dilation, and treatment discontinuation. Independent risk factors were intimate contact with large vessels (p=0.011) and intraperitoneal effusion (p=0.018).

Conclusions:

• Several predictors for postoperative liver hydatid cyst recurrence were identified.
• Two novel risk factors, intimate contact with large vessels and intraperitoneal effusion, were documented.
• Awareness of these risk factors can guide surgeons in implementing preventive strategies to reduce recurrence.