Cost-effective and time-saving surgical treatment of pulmonary hydatid cysts with multiple localization

Abstract. Purpose: The most frequent anatomic locations of hydatid cysts are the liver and lungs. Because there is no effective medical therapy against this parasitic disease, surgery is the treatment of choice. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the cost and effect of a one-stage operation with those of two- or three-stage operations in the treatment of lung hydatid cysts with multiple localizations. Methods: We evaluated 364 patients who underwent surgical treatment for hydatid cysts, all of whom had multiple localizations. To avoid two- or three-staged operations, we performed median sternotomy, simultaneous bilateral thoracotomy and unilateral thoracotomy with a transdiaphragmatic approach. Results: For the treatment of 460 hydatid cyst localizations in 364 patients, a collective 381 operations were performed. The number of operations and periods of hospitalization were reduced. Conclusion: A one-stage surgical procedure for bilateral lung and liver hydatid cysts is superior to the traditional two- and three-stage operations because it reduces morbidity, hospital stay, and cost. Received: June 4, 2001 / Accepted: January 8, 2002