[Surgical treatment of the combined heart, lung and liver hydatid disease]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Parasitology
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Hydatid disease, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, can affect multiple organs, including the heart.
• Combined cardiac and visceral echinococcosis presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
• Surgical outcomes for this complex condition require careful evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the results of surgical treatment in patients with combined cardiac and visceral hydatid disease.
• To evaluate diagnostic methods for early detection of cardiac involvement in echinococcosis.
• To assess the efficacy and safety of simultaneous surgical interventions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 12 patients with combined hydatid disease of the heart and other target organs (liver, lungs).
• Review of surgical techniques, including the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.
• Assessment of diagnostic modalities, particularly echocardiography.

Main Results:

• Simultaneous surgery for combined hydatid disease is recommended.
• Echocardiography is crucial for timely diagnosis of cardiac involvement in patients with visceral echinococcosis.
• Cardiopulmonary bypass is indicated for cardiac echinococcosis (66.7% of cases), while pericardial cysts (33.3%) may be managed without it.
• Cyst perforation into the cardiac cavity is a fatal complication.
• Intraoperative lethality was 25%.

Conclusions:

• Echocardiography should be routinely performed in patients with target organ echinococcosis to detect cardiac involvement.
• Simultaneous surgical management of combined cardiac and visceral hydatid disease is the preferred approach.
• Careful patient selection and surgical technique are essential to minimize complications and mortality.