Surgical treatment of hydatid cyst of the liver: drainage versus omentoplasty.

BACKGROUND Liver is the most common site of infection and several methods of surgery have been described to treat this common disease. In this study we aim to compare the results of two common methods of surgery; simple drainage versus omentoplasty. METHODS In this prospective study 65 patients with hepatic hydatid cyst underwent surgery from 10 May 1995 to 1 July 2002. 35 patients were treated with omentoplasty(group I) and 30 of them were treated with drainage(group II). The results of surgery including mortality, complications and recurrences were recorded. RESULTS There was no case of mortality in each group of patients. Postoperative complications were seen in 5.7% of group I, 16.6% of group II patients. The mean duration of hospital stay was 6.5 and 15.6 days in group I and group II patients. During a mean period of 18.6 month follow up there was no recurrence in each group of patients. CONCLUSION According to the results of this study we suppose that omentoplasty of cyst cavity--if feasible--is preferred to tube drainage.