Hydatid cyst of the heart and pericardium

Between 1977 and 1988, six young patients (average 22 years) underwent surgery for cardiac echinococcosis. Three had a single cyst and the others had multiple cysts which ruptured into the pericardium. The diagnosis was always confirmed by cross-sectional echocardiography and cardiac angiography. Surgery was always performed through median sternotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass. Morbidity and mortality were nil and late results were satisfactory.