Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Hydatid cyst is an endemic disease in Iran. The treatment of choice for paediatric lung hydatid cysts is surgical removal of the cyst. However, due to its high prevalence the risk of recurrence after the surgery, cystectomy with capitonnage, which preserves the lung tissue, is a favourable surgical approach compared to lobectomy. Herein, the authors compared the outcome of cystectomy and lobectomy of lung hydatid cysts. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This is a retrospective study conducted in the paediatric surgery department. Paediatric patients who had undergone surgery due to pulmonary hydatid cysts were enroled. The patients were divided into two groups including cystectomy and non-anatomic lobectomy. Then, the length of surgery, length of hospitalization, postoperative complications, and the time required to remove the chest tube were calculated in each group. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients were enroled in this retrospective study. Age, sex, location, and size of cysts were not significantly different between the two groups. The duration of surgery in the lobectomy and cystectomy groups was 116.3±33.7 versus 116.1±28.2 min, respectively (P=0.53). Surgery complications including the need for blood transfusion, pneumothorax, need for bronchoscopy and atelectasis were not different between the study groups. The mean time for first chest tube removal was significantly different between the groups with the lobectomy group having a shorter time (P=0.02). The length of hospital and ICU stay were not different between the two surgical procedures. The time to remove the first chest tube was significantly higher in cystectomy compared to lobectomy (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: The complications and outcome of the cystectomy are comparable to the lobectomy technique. However, the cystectomy method has the advantage of preserving the lung tissue, therefore it's a favourable technique in endemic areas for hydatid cysts where reoperation may be indicated.