Surgery for hydatid cysts of the liver.

This report details the perioperative management of 488 patients who underwent surgery for hydatid cysts of the liver. The most common pathology was a single cyst in the right lobe of the liver (53%). The preferred surgical procedures were partial cystectomy with closure of the residual cavity by suturing (31%) and total cystectomy (18%). Communication with the biliary system was found in 13% of cysts. The presence of multiple cysts and the need for additional procedures contributed to the overall perioperative morbidity (42%) and mortality (1%).