title: Feasibility and safety of laparoscopic hydatid surgery: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Eccinococal disease is an important problem in regions such as Turkey, where tapeworms are endemic. Surgery is the main key to successful treatment. Among the various techniques, laparoscopy has recently come to be preferred over the commonly used open technique. The aim of this review was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and potential benefits of laparoscopic hydatid surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three independent investigators conducted comprehensive research using PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane library. Language was restricted to English; reference lists were searched manually.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tweny-two retrospective studies were selected for review, none of which were randomized controlled trials. It was found that the laparocopic approach was attempted in 666 patients. The overall conversion rate to laparotomy was 4% (27/666) with a recurrence rate of hydatid disease of 1.6% (11/666). Average length of hospital stay was 4.7 (1-30) days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on this meta-analsysis, evidence confirms that the laparoscopic surgical technique is feasable and safe. Good randomized controlled trials are lacking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sisli Etfal Trammg and Research Hospital, Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Citgez
authors.forename: Muharrem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battal
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cipe
authors.forename: Oguzhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karatepe
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muslumanoglu
mesh_terms: D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D061214:Patient Safety