title: Surgical treatment of nonparasitic cysts of the liver: open versus laparoscopic treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare the immediately postoperative and follow-up results of open and laparoscopic surgery of hepatic cysts in a tertiary hepatobiliary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  From March 1999 to February 2007, 59 patients underwent surgical treatment for nonparasitic liver cysts. Patients were assigned to the laparoscopic (n = 42) or open group (n = 17) for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three conversions to open procedures had to be performed in the laparoscopic group. One patient had to be reoperated because of a bile leakage in the laparoscopic group. Follow-up examination showed 2 recurrences in the laparoscopic and 3 in the open group. Three out of 17 patients in the open group had to be operated for incisional hernias. Time to previous activities was significantly shorter after laparoscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic treatment of symptomatic nonparasitic liver cysts is superior concerning short- and long-term results in a vast majority of cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 Essen, Germany. j.treckmann@gmx.net
authors.forename: Jürgen W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Treckmann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sgourakis
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heuer
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wandelt
authors.forename: Georgios C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Sotiropoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome