UNIPORTAL VIDEO-ASSISTED THORACOSCOPIC APPROACH FOR PULMONARY HYDATID CYST

Abstract

PURPOSE: Hydatid cyst disease affects humans through food and drink contaminated with the feces of cattle that contains echinococcus parasites. The disease is endemic in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The parasite is usually transmitted from the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream, where up then to the different organs of the body (most commonly to the liver and lungs) where it grows up forming cystic sacks. Surgical excision or “opening and evacuating” the cyst (Capitonage) is usually the most effective treatment. To date, the conventional open thoracotomy approach for pulmonary hydatid cyst is still being used in the majority of the centers of thoracic surgery in the world for the belief that it is the safest way to avoid the rupture of the cyst during the operation, which may lead to serious complications such as anaphylaxis. Based on our experience in the Minimally invasive thoracic surgery, we decided in our clinic to adopt the technique of uniportal VATS and improve the technique to treat these cases. METHODS: We present our initial experience in utilizing the uniportal VATS approach for treating 24 cases of pulmonary hydatid cyst. RESULTS: Very satisfactory results, short hospital stay, no major complications or operative mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusion, Surgical treatment of the pulmonary hydatid cyst is not mandatory to be the traditional way. In the hands of expert minimally invasive thoracic surgeons, Uniportal VATS can be safely utilized in these cases with excellent results. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our technique may reduce complications associated with the open thoracotomy approach.