PURPOSE: Hydatid disease is endemic in several countries. Although the disease can be asymptomatic for long time, it is usually progressive and insidious and can be even challenging in emergency both for its diagnosis and its treatment. METHODS: We report the case of an 8-year-old Albanian boy who was admitted in emergency to our surgical department with the diagnosis of suspected hemoperitoneum caused by a mild liver trauma. The abdominal laparoscopic exploration showed, besides peritoneal free serohematic liquid, a ruptured hepatic cystic lesion involving the left liver, which was completely excised. CONCLUSIONS: Even if there are not yet any reports about the usefulness of laparoscopic treatment of ruptured liver hydatid cysts, we believe that laparoscopic approach can help the diagnosis and in selected cases, the management of this condition. However more studies need to be carried out to evaluate it's long-term safeness about the recurrence of hydatid disease.
PURPOSE: Hydatid disease is endemic in several countries. Although the disease can be asymptomatic for long time, it is usually progressive and insidious and can be even challenging in emergency both for its diagnosis and its treatment. METHODS: We report the case of an 8-year-old Albanian boy who was admitted in emergency to our surgical department with the diagnosis of suspected hemoperitoneum caused by a mild liver trauma. The abdominal laparoscopic exploration showed, besides peritoneal free serohematic liquid, a ruptured hepatic cystic lesion involving the left liver, which was completely excised. CONCLUSIONS: Even if there are not yet any reports about the usefulness of laparoscopic treatment of ruptured liver hydatid cysts, we believe that laparoscopic approach can help the diagnosis and in selected cases, the management of this condition. However more studies need to be carried out to evaluate it's long-term safeness about the recurrence of hydatid disease.