Laparoscopic treatment of nonparasitic cysts of the liver with omental transposition flap.
BACKGROUND
Between 1991 and November 1994, 18 patients with large, solitary, nonparasitic liver cysts underwent laparoscopic deroofing; the last 13 of them also received an omental transposition flap in addition.


METHODS
Using three to four trocars, the cystic contents were first aspirated, and the cyst derooted widely using diathermia. An omental transposition flap was fashioned and stapled into the cyst cavity itself.


RESULTS
Postoperative complications included one case of pulmonary atelectasis. Another patient developed a subhepatic bile collection which was aspirated percutaneously. On average, patients were discharged on the 4th (2-14) postoperative day. Follow-up was performed with abdominal ultrasound for 2-43 months (mean 19 months). There were two early cyst recurrences, both in cases without an omental transposition flap (overall recurrence rate, 11%; in patients with omental flap, 0).


CONCLUSIONS
Deroofing in combination with an omental transposition flap is a safe and effective therapy for symptomatic solitary liver cysts and can be performed using minimal-access surgical techniques.
Emmermann
A
A
Department of General Surgery, Universitätskrankenhaus Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Zornig
C
C
Lloyd
D M
DM
Peiper
M
M
Bloechle
C
C
Broelsch
C E
CE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009852:Omentum / Q000637:transplantation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome