Objective: To examine the morbidity, mortality and recurrence rate after a modified conservative operation in the treatment of hepatic hydatidosis.
Design: Prospective open study.
Setting: University hospital, Greece.
Subjects: 67 Consecutive patients with hepatic hydatidosis, operated on between 1985 and 1990.
Intervention: The liver was mobilised and abdominal cavity isolated with pads soaked in 15% saline solution. Hydatid fluid was aspirated from the cysts which were widely deroofed, sterilised with 15% saline, and then oversewn with a braided absorbable suture. Drains were left in place and a third of patients also had omentoplasty (n = 22).
Main outcome measures: Morbidity, mortality and recurrence rate.
Results: One patient died (1%), 4 developed complications (6%), and there were 3 recurrences (6%). It made no difference whether an omentoplasty was added or not.
Conclusion: Conservative surgery achieves satisfactory results in the treatment of hepatic hydatidosis.