Management of residual cavity after partial cystectomy for hepatic hydatidosis: comparison of omentoplasty with external drainage

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. Copyright © 2000 Taylor and Francis Ltd.