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Published on: September 16, 2022
A case of cardiac hydatidosis
S Laglera1, M A Garcia-Enguita, F Martinez-Gutierrez
1Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, C/ Isabel La Católica s/n, Zaragoza, Spain.
Insights
A rare case of cardiac hydatidosis, a parasitic infection of the heart, is presented. This unusual presentation required emergency surgery due to severe hemodynamic compromise.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Hydatidosis, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, is endemic in many regions.
- Cardiac involvement in hydatidosis is rare, with few reported cases globally.
- Echinococcosis typically affects organs like the liver and lungs.
Observation:
- A female patient presented with anaphylactic shock of unknown origin.
- Diagnostic imaging revealed a hydatid cyst exclusively located in the heart, specifically the septum and right ventricular cavity.
- The cyst's cardiac-exclusive location and initial presentation were highly unusual.
Findings:
- The patient's hydatid cyst was surgically removed.
- Immediate surgical intervention was necessary due to severe hemodynamic compromise caused by the cardiac cyst.
- Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of Echinococcus granulosus.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering rare diagnoses like cardiac hydatidosis in patients with unexplained anaphylaxis or hemodynamic instability.
- Early recognition and surgical management are crucial for favorable outcomes in cardiac hydatidosis.
- Further research into the specific factors leading to exclusive cardiac localization of hydatid cysts is warranted.
Abstract:
We present the case of a female patient with a diagnosis of hydatidosis located in the heart. Although echinococcosis is endemic to our country, very few cases of cardiac hydatidosis are normally reported. In our patient, the hydatid cyst was located in the septum and in the right ventricular cavity; it presented other unusual features, such as the fact that it was located exclusively in the heart, that it first manifested as anaphylactic shock of unknown origin and that it required immediate surgical treatment because of severe haemodynamic compromise.
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