: Hydatid disease is a parasitic condition that causes significant morbidity in endemic regions, with surgery being the standard treatment. However, extraordinary circumstances, particularly crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and major earthquakes, have led to the postponement of elective surgeries and delayed patient presentation to healthcare facilities. This situation has resulted in more complicated clinical presentations of hydatid cysts and an increased need for emergency surgical interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, surgical approaches, complications, and outcomes of emergency hydatid cyst surgeries performed during crisis periods. : This retrospective study included 32 patients who underwent surgery for hydatid disease. Demographic data, presenting symptoms, surgical techniques, complications, and length of hospital stay were analyzed. Patients presenting with acute abdomen and requiring emergency surgery were defined as crisis-period cases and formed the main focus of the study, while those undergoing elective surgery were evaluated for comparison. Descriptive statistics were used; continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation, and categorical variables as frequency and percentage. : The mean age of patients was 51.9 years, and 62.5% were male. The most common presenting symptom was abdominal pain (71.9%). The rate of emergency surgery due to acute abdomen was 28.1%. The most frequently performed procedure was cystectomy (71.9%), and open surgery was required in 65.6% of cases. Preoperative complications included biliary fistula (9.4%) and rupture (6.3%), while postoperative complications most commonly included biliary fistula (9.4%) and atelectasis (9.4%). The mean length of hospital stay was 6.6 days. : During crisis periods, patients with hydatid disease more frequently present with conditions requiring emergency surgery. Our findings highlight the importance of emergency surgical preparedness under extraordinary circumstances and provide clinical insight into surgical practice during crisis periods.
Öndeş et al. (Sun,) studied this question.