Abstract
Objectives: To review surgical cases of pulmonary hydatid cyst disease that had been treated at the King Hussein Medical Center over a period of three years from January 2007 and December 2009 .

Methods: This retrospective study was performed at the Thoracic Surgery division of the Royal Medical Services. Twenty seven cases were included in this study; cases that had been treated medically were excluded. Mode of presentation, diagnosis, surgical approach and complications were documented and analyzed.

Results: There were 15 male (55.6%) and 12 females (44.4%) patients. Age ranged from 15-72 years (mean 44 ±10.3 years). Cough and hemoptysis were the most common presenting symptoms which were found in 20 cases (74.1%). Right sided cysts were found in 9 cases (33.3%) while left sided cyst were found in 13 cases (48.1%) and in 5 cases (18.5%) cysts were found bilaterally . We performed enucleation and capitonnage in 4 patients (14.8%), wedge resection in 5 patients (18.5%) and deroofing and capitonnage in 18 patients (66.6%). Most patients had a smooth recovery except 3 patients (11.1%) who had developed a prolonged air leak, two of whom were treated conservatively.

Conclusion: Different surgical techniques including deroofing and capitonnage and wedge resection are effective methods to treat pulmonary hydatid cyst disease with minimal complications and satisfactory results.

Key words: Hydatid , Cappitonage , Air leak