Efficacy analysis of ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheter drainage with anhydrous ethanol irrigation combined with lauromacrogol foam in the treatment of simple hepatic cysts

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheter drainage with anhydrous ethanol irrigation combined with polidocanol foam in the treatment of simple hepatic cysts (SHC). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 90 patients with SHC treated in Ezhou Central Hospital between January 2022 and December 2024. Patients were divided into three groups: anhydrous ethanol group (n=32), polidocanol group (n=30), and combination group (n=28). Cyst shrinkage and recurrence rates, changes in cyst wall thickness, treatment efficacy, and perioperative data were compared among the groups. Results At the 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month treatment marks, the cyst reduction rates in the combination group were (68.4±12.0)%, (84.0±18.6)%, and (93.5±22.3)%, respectively, which were significantly greater than those in the absolute ethanol group [(55.8±7.8)%, (72.1±15.4)%, and (82.3±18.4)%, P<0.05] and the lauromacrogol group [(58.4±8.1)%, (75.2±14.9)%, and (84.0±19.0)%, P<0.05]. There was no statistically significant difference in the cyst recurrence rates at 6 months among the absolute ethanol group, the lauromacrogol group, and the combination group (P>0.05). The degree of cyst wall thinning in the combination group was (1.2±0.4) mm, which was significantly smaller than those in the absolute ethanol group [(2.2±0.5) mm] and the lauromacrogol group [(1.9±0.5) mm], with the differences being statistically significant (P<0.05). At the 6-month treatment mark, the treatment efficacy rate in the combination group was 96.4%, which was significantly higher than that in the absolute ethanol group and the lauromacrogol group (71.9% and 73.3%, respectively, P<0.05). Major postoperative complications included secondary infection, biliary tract injury, severe allergic reactions, and puncture-related bleeding. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications among the groups (P>0.05). The VAS score, number of treatment sessions, and hospital stay duration in the combination group were significantly lower than those in the other two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheter drainage with anhydrous ethanol irrigation combined with polidocanol foam is a safe and effective treatment for SHC, offering advantages including higher efficacy, lower recurrence, more complete cyst wall destruction, better patient comfort, and good procedural feasibility. This combined approach holds promise for broader clinical application.

Key words: Simple hepatic cyst, Anhydrous ethanol, Polidocanol foam, Ultrasound-guided drainage, Cyst wall thickness

HU Xuan, WU Qing. Efficacy analysis of ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheter drainage with anhydrous ethanol irrigation combined with lauromacrogol foam in the treatment of simple hepatic cysts[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2026, 31(5): 664-667.

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