OBJECTIVE: To review the experience of surgical treatment of cardiac echinococcosis. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with cardiac echinococcosis, including 15 males and 10 females with a mean age of (29±8) years, undergoing surgical treatment from February 1978 to September 2011 were retrospectively summarized. RESULTS: There were myocardial echinococcosis (n=16), pericardial echinococcosis (n=7), myocardial and pericardial echinococcosis (n=2). The surgical procedures included complete resection of hydatid cysts, cystectomy with needle aspiration and complete removal of endocyst. There was no intraoperative mortality. Twenty-one patients were followed up for 5-168 months. Four patients recurred and 1 died from heart failure at 10 months postoperation. CONCLUSION: The preferred treatment of cardiac hydatid cyst is surgical resection. And a selection of proper technique is of great importance for excising hydatid cyst and preventing recurrence.
OBJECTIVE: To review the experience of surgical treatment of cardiac echinococcosis. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with cardiac echinococcosis, including 15 males and 10 females with a mean age of (29±8) years, undergoing surgical treatment from February 1978 to September 2011 were retrospectively summarized. RESULTS: There were myocardial echinococcosis (n=16), pericardial echinococcosis (n=7), myocardial and pericardial echinococcosis (n=2). The surgical procedures included complete resection of hydatid cysts, cystectomy with needle aspiration and complete removal of endocyst. There was no intraoperative mortality. Twenty-one patients were followed up for 5-168 months. Four patients recurred and 1 died from heart failure at 10 months postoperation. CONCLUSION: The preferred treatment of cardiac hydatid cyst is surgical resection. And a selection of proper technique is of great importance for excising hydatid cyst and preventing recurrence.