Laparoscopic Treatment Of A Large, Central Hydatic Liver Cyst (With Drawings)

A 56-year-old man working in wool industry presented in our department with dull aching left flank pain for the past 6 months. Abdominal examination revealed a large lump in epigastric region. An ultrasonography of abdomen showed a large multilocular cyst (9/13 cm) located in the central liver segments (V, IVb, 1), with floating membranes inside. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan revealed the same findings. Serum antibody test for hydatidosis was positive. The patient was given oral albendazole 400 mg twice daily for 4 weeks preoperatively. Then, a laparoscopic removal was performed.
The operation time was 150 min and the total blood loss was 400 ml. No intraoperative spillage was noted. The patient was orally allowed on Day 1 and discharged on Day 5. Oral albendazole therapy was continued 3 months after the operation. He remains symptom free and abdominal CT scan did not reveal any recurrences after 6 months of follow-up.