Capitonnage results in low postoperative morbidity in the surgical treatment of pulmonary echinococcosis.

BACKGROUND

The main surgical techniques in the treatment of pulmonary echinococcosis are cystotomy alone, cystotomy and capitonnage, enucleation, and pericystectomy. Controversy persists regarding the selection of surgical technique. We reviewed our experience to identify the impact of capitonnage on outcomes.

METHODS

A single-institution retrospective analysis was made of the 308 consecutive patients with thoracic hydatid disease treated surgically during 17 years.

RESULTS

The most common presenting symptoms were cough and chest pain. At presentation, 69 patients (22.4%) had complicated hydatid disease, cyst rupture into bronchus in 62 and into pleural cavity in 7. Bilateral involvement occurred in 37 patients (12.0%), simultaneous hepatic cysts in 36 (11.6%), and intrathoracic extrapulmonary involvement in 14 (4.5%). Surgery consisted of cystotomy with capitonnage in 271 patients (92.2%), cystotomy and closure of bronchial openings in 20 (6.8%), and lobectomy in 3 (1.0%). Hospital mortality was zero; postoperative complications developed in 21 patients (6.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Cystotomy with capitonnage has a low complication rate. Pulmonary resection is best limited to patients with parenchymal destruction secondary to infection.