Abstract
Objective: To investigate the role of two approaches to the operative treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts.
Design: Prospective study.
Setting: University and teaching hospital, Turkey.
Subjects: 108 patients with single uncomplicated hydatid cysts who were operated on in two clinics between 1990 and 1995.
Intervention: Introflexion and omentoplasty or external drainage after partial cystectomy in single uncomplicated hydatid cysts more than 5 cm in size.
Main outcome measures: Morbidity, mortality, and hospital stay.
Results: The median hospital stay after introflexion and omentoplasty was 8 days (range 3-15), which was significantly shorter than that after external drainage (12 days, range 7-20). There were 2/35 postoperative complications in the former group compared with 17/73 in the drainage group (p = 0.03). There was one death after introflexion and omentoplasty.
Conclusion: Introflexion and omentoplasty after partial cystectomy for a single uncomplicated hydatid cyst caused significantly fewer complications than external drainage, and patients left hospital sooner.