LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY OF HEPATIC HYDATID-DISEASE - INITIAL RESULTS ANDEARLY FOLLOW-UP OF 16 PATIENTS

Surgery is the main modality in the treatment of hepatic hydatid disea se. In this report, a laparoscopic surgical method is described, and t he results in the first 16 cases are presented. The method involves th e use of an aspirator-grinder apparatus that achieves effective evacua tion of viable cyst contents with the patient benefiting from the lapa roscopic approach. Cavity infection occurred in two patients and was t reated conservatively. In another patient, postoperative ultrasonograp hy revealed a thick-walled cavity containing a dense fluid, Because th e patient was symptomatic, pericystectomy was performed during the six th postoperative month. Early postoperative parameters and the early f ollow-up results in other patients (2-17 months) are encouraging, The method is particularly suitable for uncomplicated, early-stage cysts l ocated in laparoscopically accessible locations.