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Cardiac echinococcosis, a rare condition, requires surgical intervention. Computer tomography aids diagnosis, and bypass circulation is recommended for left ventricular cysts.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Parasitology
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Echinococcosis of the heart is a rare parasitic infection.
- It presents diagnostic challenges and necessitates surgical treatment.
Observation:
- Six patients with cardiac echinococcosis underwent surgery between 1971 and 1987.
- Four cases involved cysts in the right heart, and two in the left ventricle.
- Computer tomography (CT) was crucial for precise cyst localization and surgical planning.
Findings:
- Left thoracotomy was employed for right-sided heart cysts.
- Bypass circulation was utilized for left ventricular hydatid cysts.
- All operated patients survived, with no reported mortality.
Implications:
- Accurate diagnosis via CT is vital for determining the optimal surgical approach.
- Surgical intervention is the definitive treatment for cardiac echinococcosis.
- Contemporary surgical management, particularly for left ventricular involvement, should involve bypass circulation.
Abstract:
From 1971 through 1987 six patients with echinococcus of the hear have been operated. In four of them the hydatid cyst was localized in the right portion of the heart and in two in the left ventricle. Left thoracotomy was used for the operation of the former four patients, whereas the hydatid cysts localized in the left ventricle were operated under bypass circulation. None of the operated patients died. The diagnosis was established by using computer tomography, which provided exact localization of the hydatid cyst and determined the operative approach. Echinococcosis of the heart is rare and creates diagnostic difficulties. This diagnosis is an absolute indication for operative intervention which under contemporary conditions should be performed by use of bypass circulation.