Five years experience in surgical treatment of liver hydatidosis.

Liver hydatidosis is frequent in Santiago Del Estero. Different therapeutic procedures have been proposed, but surgery is still the best option. This observational retrospective analysis presents the authors' experience and results, with the goal of selecting the best surgical procedures. A total of 66 patients with 89 cysts were evaluated between December 1997 and 2002. Sex, age, cyst localization, complication of cysts, surgical procedure, associated procedures, morbidity and mortality, and hospital stay were evaluated. Of 89 cysts, 10 were complicated; of 66 patients, 59 had solitary cysts. Pericystectomy, Mabit procedure, liver resection, bipolar or tripolar drainage, and marsupialization were used. Morbidity was 22.72%, and mortality was 1.51%. The average hospital stay was 7.03 days. In the follow-up, 33 patients were evaluated, with only 1 recurrence. The results are similar to other published series. Complicated cysts have a more complex solution and evolution. Pericystectomy, Mabit procedure, and liver resections are the chosen surgical procedures in uncomplicated cysts. Laparoscopic surgery undoubtedly has a place in the treatment of liver hydatidosis.