A series of 269 patients with 371 surgically treated hydatid cysts of the liver is reported. Cystopericystectomy was performed in 45.2% of cases, liver resection in 7%, subtotal cystectomy in 26.9%, cystojejunostomy in 1.8% and drainage in 9.7%. Overall mortality and morbility were 2.9% and 31% respectively, with a mean hospital stay of 29 days. The highest mortality (6%) and morbility (45%) were observed in patients undergoing subtotal cystectomy. In the group of patients treated by conservative surgery the overall mortality was 32.5%, while in the group treated by radical surgery it was 27% (p less than 0.05). These data suggest that in the treatment of hydatid disease radical resection is followed by the lowest complication and mortality rates
