Cystotomy with Non-Capitonnage in Treating Children with Pulmonary Hydatid Disease

Purpose: Pulmonary parenchyma saving method (cystotomy and enucleation) has been globally accepted in lung hydatidosis. However, whether capitonnage is performed or not after cystotomy is still controversial. This study aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 12 pediatric patients with pulmonary hydatid cysts. These 12 patients (10 males and 2 females), with an average age of 8.7 years, underwent cystotomy without capitonnage. The mean follow-up period was 36 months. Results: Among the 12 patients, 10 underwent thoracotomy cystotomy and 2 underwent thoracoscopic surgery with excellent outcomes except one case of postoperative broncho-pleura fistula, which was treated through thoracoscopic surgery. The mean hospital stay was 8 days. No death or recurrence occurred during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Good therapeutic effect can be expected by combining cystotomy of pulmonary hydatid cysts with postoperative anti-hydatid drug therapy. For those unruptured (uncomplicated) hydatid lung cysts, cystotomy with the non-capitonnage method seems to be the best option, which needs to be verified by well-designed studies.