Conventional versus laparoscopic surgery for hepatic hydatidosis: a 6-year single-center experience.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical results of laparoscopic surgery compared with conventional surgery.

Methods: Records of patients who underwent surgery for liver hydatid disease between 2005 and 2011 were reviewed. Operative time, blood loss, conversion to open, postoperative morbidity, mortality, hospital stay, and recurrence rate were measured.

Results: Among 353 eligible patients, 60 were considered for laparoscopic and 293 for conventional surgery. Operative time was slightly increased in laparoscopic group. No major blood loss and blood transfusion were needed. Postoperative hospital stay was significantly short in laparoscopic group (3.8 ± 1.2 days) than that in conventional group (7.4 ± 1.4 days). The overall morbidity was 13.3 % (8/60) in laparoscopic and 19.8 % (58/293) in conventional group without significance. Both conversion rate and mortality was 0 %. One recurrence in laparoscopic (1.7 %, 1/60) and five in conventional group (1.7 %, 5/293) occurred within 48 months of follow-up.

Conclusions: Laparoscopic treatment of liver hydatid disease is safe and effective in selected patients with all its advantages.