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Transient Transduction of the Strobilated Forms of Echinococcus granulosus
Published on: September 16, 2022
Surgical experience with cardiac echinococcosis.
Sami S Kabbani1, Ahmed Ramadan, Loay Kabbani
1Damascus University Cardiovascular Surgical Center, Mezza Str., PO Box 2837, Damascus, Syria. dam-uncv@net.sy
Asian Cardiovascular & Thoracic Annals
|October 4, 2007
Summary
Surgical intervention for cardiac echinococcosis, a rare heart condition caused by Echinococcus tapeworm, offers a high survival rate. Prompt surgical management, including cyst enucleation, is crucial for treating this serious parasitic infection.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Cardiac echinococcosis is a rare parasitic infection of the heart.
- It is endemic in specific geographic regions.
- Diagnosis is often challenging and relies on advanced imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the surgical outcomes for cardiac echinococcosis.
- To present a preferred surgical technique for cyst removal.
- To assess the role of adjuvant medical therapy.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 19 patients operated on between 1990 and 2005.
- Diagnosis primarily by 2D-echocardiography.
- Surgical management involved cardiopulmonary bypass, cardioplegia, and specific cyst excision techniques (enucleation, exteriorization, aspiration).
Main Results:
- No operative mortality was observed in the study cohort.
- Intact cysts were successfully enucleated, ruptured cysts exteriorized, and septal cysts managed via aspiration.
- Postoperative treatment with mebendazole was administered; 4 late deaths occurred due to systemic disease spread.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac echinococcosis requires prompt surgical management.
- Enucleation of intact cysts under cardiopulmonary bypass is an effective surgical approach.
- Anthelmintic therapy is a necessary adjunct to surgical treatment for optimal outcomes.

