Complications and management of patients with liver hydatid cyst: A single center experience.

Abstract

Background and aim: Hydatid cysts are caused by Echinococcus larvae and are prevalent in endemic areas worldwide. We analyzed post-procedure complications and outcomes of patients with liver hydatid cysts.

Materials and methods: We included patients who were managed either by surgery or percutaneous drainage (PAIR) for hydatid liver cysts at Harran University Faculty of Medicine Hospital between January 2017 and February 2021. We recorded age, sex, segmental location, size, number, Gharbi classification, treatment modality, length of hospital stays, and complications.

Results: We included a total of 209 patients who were managed by hydatid liver cysts. Among them, 74 post-procedural complications were developed in a total of 69 (33%) patients. Biliary fistula was the most prevalent complication (n=38,18.2%). Hospitalization duration was a median of 5 days (2-36) and was 5 days (2-36) in patients who underwent surgery and 3 days (range:2-7) in patients managed by PAIR. Patients with cyst diameter ≥9.5 cm were predicted to have an increased risk of complications with 70% sensitivity and 60% specificity. More patients experienced any difficulties in patients who were managed by PAIR than those who underwent surgery (65.4% vs 28.4%, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Our study showed that both surgery and PAIR are safe and effective management strategies for patients with liver cyst hydatid. PAIR was associated with more complications but a shorter duration of hospitalization.