Laparoscopic fenestration for the treatment of patients with severe adult polycystic liver disease.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to present our experience in laparoscopic fenestration for patients with severe symptomatic adult polycystic liver disease (APLD), analyze its feasibility, and evaluate its immediate and mid-term outcome.


METHODS
Between January 2000 and January 2002, 9 patients underwent laparoscopic fenestration for symptomatic APLD in our laparoendoscopic unit. All patients had both liver lobes affected with multiple cysts, whereas type II disease (present in 8 patients) was not a contraindication for the procedure. The results were retrospectively evaluated.


RESULTS
Conversion to laparotomy was required in 1 patient who was submitted to a second laparoscopic procedure (2 years postoperatively) after being admitted to our department with sepsis. Complete regression of symptoms was achieved in 7 of our patients (77.8%). One death occurred because of acute renal failure established 5 weeks after the patient was discharged. During a mean follow-up of 25.8 months, 2 patients presented with recurrence of their symptoms (22.2%). One of them was reoperated on; both of them remain symptom free 14 months postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic fenestration appears to be a useful and effective approach for severe APLD. It is associated with short hospital stay and a significant symptom-free period. Despite the reported morbidity, aggressive and meticulous deroofing of as many cysts as possible can be successfully applied for carefully selected patients with type II disease.
Konstadoulakis
Manousos M
MM
Laparoendoscopic Unit, First Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Hippocration Hospital, Athens University, 114 Queen Sophia Avenue, 11527 Athens, Greece. labsures@med.uoa.gr
Gomatos
Ilias P
IP
Albanopoulos
Kostantinos
K
Alexakis
Nikolaos
N
Leandros
Emmanuel
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003560:Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged