Jaundice as a clinical presentation in liver hydatidosis increases the risk of postoperative biliary fistula

Cholangiohydatidosis. Clinical features, postoperative complications and hospital mortality. A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Cholangiohydatidosis (CH) is an evolutionary complication of hepatic cystic echinococcosis, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to describe the available evidence regarding clinical characteristics of CH, postoperative complications and hospital mortality.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Systematic review. Studies related to CH with no language or publication restriction were included. Sensitive searches were performed in Trip Database, SciELO, BIREME-BVS, WoS, PubMed, EMBASE and SCOPUS. MeSH and free terms were used, including articles up to April 2023. The main outcome variables were postoperative complications and hospital mortality; the secondary ones were publication year, origin and design of primary studies, main clinical manifestation, anatomical location and type of cysts, hospital stay, surgical procedure performed, reinterventions; and methodological quality of primary studies, which was assessed using MInCir-T and MInCir-P scales. Descriptive statistics, calculation of weighted averages and their comparison by least squares logistic regression were applied. 446 studies were retrieved from the searches performed, 102 of which met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The studies analyzed represent 1241 patients. The highest proportion of articles was published in the last decade (39.2%). Reports are mainly from Turkey (28.4%), Greece (9.8%), Morocco and Spain (8.8% each). With a weighted mean of 14.3 days of hospital stance; it was verified that 26.2% of patients developed postoperative complications (74,3% Clavien y Dindo III y IV), 6.7% needed re-interventions, and 3.7% died. When comparing the variables age, postoperative complications, hospital mortality, and reinterventions in two periods of time (1982-2006 vs. 2007-2023), no statistically significant differences were found. When applying the MInCir-T and MInCir-P scales, the methodological quality of the primary studies was 9.6±1.1 and 14.5±4.3 points, respectively.

CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE

CH is associated with severe postoperative complications and significant hospital mortality, independent of the development of therapeutic support associated with the passage of time.

Textbook outcome in the surgical treatment of liver hydatid cyst

BACKGROUND

Textbook outcome is a composite measure used in surgery to define the ideal postoperative period and to assess the quality of care. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of textbook outcome and the factors independently associated with its achievement following surgical treatment of liver hydatid cysts.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of patients operated on for liver hydatid cysts between January 2006 and December 2021. Textbook outcome was achieved when all the following criteria were fulfilled: no mortality within 90 days, no major complications within 90 days, no hospital readmission within 90 days, and no prolonged hospital stay. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors associated with textbook outcome.

RESULTS

During the study period, 296 patients underwent surgery. Textbook outcome was recorded in 65.9% (195/296). Female gender (odds ratio 2.02; P = .010), noncomplicated cyst (odds ratio 3.97, P < .001), and radical surgery (odds ratio 2.26, P = .003) were the variables associated with a higher probability of achieving textbook outcome.

CONCLUSION

Textbook outcome may be a useful measure to assess the variations in surgical management between different centers, and to improve quality of care after liver hydatid cysts resection.

Surgical treatment of liver hydatid cyst in elderly patients: A propensity score-matching retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cystic echinococcosis is a clinically complex chronic parasitic disease and a major socioeconomic problem in endemic areas. The safety of liver resection in elderly patients is often debated among medical professionals. We analyzed the postoperative morbidity and mortality rates of elderly patients who underwent surgery at our unit.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated patients with liver hydatid cysts which were surgically removed at our unit. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (patients < 70 years), and Group 2 (patients ≥ 70 years). Propensity score matching (PSM) and comparative analyses between groups were performed.

RESULTS

The unmatched cohort consisted of 279 patients (Group 1: 244; Group 2: 35). After PSM, we compared the outcomes for 56 patients from Group 1 to 31 patients from Group 2. A higher rate of severe complications was observed in Group 2 (25.8% vs 5.36%, p = 0.014). No difference was found in the rates of infectious, cardiorespiratory, or hemorrhagic complications between both groups, and in the mortality rate either (0.00% vs 6.45%, p = 0.124).

CONCLUSIONS

Liver surgery in selected elderly patients is safe and practicable. The low postoperative morbidity rate in these patients is acceptable, albeit higher, due to their comorbidities.

Results of minimally invasive treatment of liver echinococcosis in comparison with traditional surgical methods

Aim. To analyze the effectiveness of PAIR in comparison with traditional surgical methods.

Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of 199 patients who underwent surgical treatment of hepatic echinococcosis was carried out. Pericystectomy was performed on 95 (47.7%) patients (1st group), traditional echinococcectomy – 55 (27.6%; 2nd group), PAIR – 49 (24.6%; 3rd group). All patients received antihelmintic therapy for 2 months in the postoperative period.

Results. Patients of the group 3 had significantly more CE1 cysts compared with the groups 2 and 1 – 38 (77.5%) versus 19 (34.5%) and 44 (46.3%; p < 0.05) respectively. In group 2, CE2 and CE3 cysts were predominant. The duration of the operation in group 3 was significantly shorter than in group 1 and 2 – 58.2 (25–170), 194.8 (85–440) and 217 (75–540) minutes (p < 0.05). In group 1, intraoperative blood loss was higher than in group 2 – 165.4 ml (10–1000) and 106.7 ml (10–500; p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in postoperative complications according to Clavien–Dindo. The duration of postoperational hospital stay of patients from the group 3 was shorter than for 1 and 2 groups – 4.3 (2–11) days, 8.03 (5–16) days and 8.08 (4–20) days (p < 0.05) respectively. There was no disease recurrence during the follow-up period.

Conclusion. The optimal treatment should be based on the stage of the disease. In CE1, the most effective method is PAIR, which is characterized by a shorter postoperational hospital stay and early recovery. In multivesicular cysts (CE2-CE3b), traditional methods of treatment are effective.