Laparoscopic treatment using an argon beam coagulator for nonparasitic liver cysts.
BACKGROUND
Laparoscopic deroofing has been shown to produce good patient satisfaction and to have results similar to those of open surgical techniques. We evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic deroofing using an argon beam coagulator (ABC) in the patients with nonparasitic liver cysts.


METHODS
Laparoscopic deroofing for the treatment of liver cysts was attempted on 14 patients. After the deroofing, the secreting epithelium within the residual cystic cavity wall was destroyed using the ABC.


RESULTS
Laparoscopic deroofing was successful in all patients. No deaths or surgical morbidity occurred, and no postoperative complications were recorded. The median postoperative hospital stay was 7 days. The median follow-up was 56 months for all patients, and all patients have remained completely asymptomatic for 6 months after the surgery, with no recurrence of the cysts.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that laparoscopic deroofing using the ABC method in patients with nonparasitic liver cysts was effective in preventing cyst recurrence.
Kwon
A-Hon
AH
First Department of Surgery, Kansai Medical University, 10-15 Fumizono, Moriguchi, Osaka, 570-8507, Japan. kon@takii.kmu.ac.jp
Matsui
Yoichi
Y
Inui
Hiroyuki
H
Imamura
Atsushi
A
Kamiyama
Yasuo
Y
D000368:Aged; D003560:Cysts / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications