[Surgical treatment of heart echinococcosis]

Echinococcosis of the heart is a rare but dangerous for life disease, very difficult for diagnosis. 5 patients with echinococcosis of the heart were examined, 2 were operated. Introduction into clinical practice of complex echocardiography contributed to precise diagnosis. The viability of the parasite was determined after application of the latex-test. Defection of the living echinococcus parasites in the heart was indication for surgery. Removal of the echinococcus from the myocardium of the left ventricle in 1 patient was carried out without artificial circulation and was accompanied by a significant risk, the complete excision of fibrous capsula being impossible. Intraventricular location of the echinococcus cyst in the other patient has required artificial circulation and cardioplegia. Intraventricular cyst was successfully and radically removed after preliminary sterilization by glycerine solution.