Surgical Management and Treatment Approaches of Bilateral Lung Cyst Hydatid Disease: A Single Center Retrospective Study

Background: This study aimed to review the management and treatment approaches for patients who underwent surgery for bilateral pulmonary hydatid cysts in our clinic. Methods: A total of 175 patients who underwent surgery for pulmonary hydatid cysts between January 2008 and February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Bilateral pulmonary hydatid cysts were detected in 16 patients (9.14%), and 12 patients who underwent bilateral surgical treatment were included in the study. Results: The average age of the patients was 36.7 ± 18.0 years (ranging from 15 to 65 years), with an equal number of males and females. One patient underwent simultaneous bilateral thoracotomy, while the others received sequential thoracotomy for surgical treatment. A total of 36 pulmonary hydatid cysts were removed across 23 surgical sessions involving 12 patients. The cysts had an average diameter of 4.7±1.42 cm and were predominantly located in the lower lobes (56%). The contralateral side was operated on an average of 3.81 months after the intervention on one hemithorax. After the second operation, albendazole treatment at a dosage of 10 mg/kg/day was initiated. No operative mortality was recorded, and the average follow-up duration was 26.6 months. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of reviewing the necessary criteria for successful surgical planning in cases of hydatid cysts in bilateral lungs. According to the data obtained, prioritizing numerous, larger, and intact cysts can help minimize the risk of potential operative complications.