Laparoscopic Management of Liver Hydatid Cyst: Current Experience of Single Center Study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and outcome of laparoscopic surgery in properly selected cases of liver hydatid cyst.

Study Design: Prospective study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Surgery, Basrah College of Medicine, Iraq from 1st June 2023 to 30th June 2025.

Methods: In this prospective study, twenty-seven 27 patients with liver hydatid disease were enrolled. All of them had undergone laparoscopic liver hydatid cyst surgical treatment.

Results: There were 17 females and 10 males with mean age 42.48 years. They presented with abdominal pain (19, 70.38%), asymptomatic (6, 22.22%), jaundice (2, 7.4%).There were 4 (14.81%) cases of cystobiliary communication; 2 patients with jaundice were preoperatively detected and treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, 1 patient was intraoperatively detected during checking the cystic cavity by telescope which was treated by suturing using vicryl 2-0 and 1 patient was detected postoperatively by bile leak through intracystic drain which was treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Most patients had cyst size ≥ 8 cm, 17 (62.96%) cases. The mean operative time was 58.89 minutes. The mean Visual Analogue Scale score was 5.19 reflecting moderate severity of pain and thus mean duration of analgesia was 1.15 days and consequently the mean hospital stay was 1.59 days. Postoperative complications were noticed in 4 (14.81%) patients including cavity abscess, atelectasis, port site infection and postoperative bile leak.

Conclusion: Laparoscopic approach for appropriate liver hydatid cyst can be achieved safely with short hospital stay and short duration of analgesia.