Laparoscopic treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts: techniques and post-operative complications

Abstract

IntroductionWe evaluate our experience in the surgical laparoscopic treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts with the same criteria that we use in open surgery. Material and methodsA retrospective study of 8 operated patients and their intra- and postoperative complications. ResultsWe performed the scheduled surgery on 7 patients; bleeding was the reason for conversion to open surgery in the remaining one. We made 4 complete peri-cystectomies, 3 de-roofing, and 1 hepatic resection. Two patients had postoperative bile leaks: the first one had an external leak that needed an endoscopic sphincterotomy and the other developed an abscess that needed reintervention for drainage. This patient also had a right hepatic vein thrombosis that disappeared spontaneously. Finally, 3 patients had hypernatremia without clinical symptoms. ConclusionsMany of the open surgery techniques for hepatic hydatid cysts can be performed laparoscopically, without any specific instruments. Our complications with laparoscopic treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts were similar to those of open surgery.