Laparoscopic Versus Open Surgery for the Management of Cystic Echinococcosis of the Liver

Echinococcosis in humans is a parasitic tapeworm infection, caused by a larval stage (the metacestode) of Echinococcus species. The infection can be asymptomatic or severe, causing extensive organ damage and even death of the patient.

Echinococcosis is one of the most neglected parasitic diseases and the lack of the prospective randomised studies supports this idea. Development of new drugs and other treatment modalities receives very little attention, if any. In most developed countries, Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) is an imported disease of very low incidence and prevalence and is found almost exclusively in migrants from endemic regions. In endemic regions, predominantly settings with limited resources, patient numbers are high.

The aim of the hydatid cyst treatment is the death of the parasite and consequently the cure of the disease. It has to be done with a minimal risk and maximum comfort for the patient, and always paying attention to avoid complications, secondary hydatidosis, and relapses.

There are several treatment modalities. Of them the most preferred surgical method is traditional cyst management through a laparotomy incision. Same can be done with laparoscopy. In the past 15 years significant advances in laparoscopic surgical skills and techniques combined with explosive advances in laparoscopic technology have encouraged the application of laparoscopy to the evaluation and treatment of solid organs including the liver. There are many studies about the laparoscopic treatment of liver hydatid cyst published in the literature and the feasibility of this procedure has been demonstrated by them. While the majority of them are case reports or case series, there are some relatively large series comparing open versus laparoscopic surgery published in the last decade, which all are not randomized trial.