Vivek Wadhawa1, Jigar Shah1, Chirag Doshi1, Jaydip Ramani1, Ketav Lakhia1, Divyesh Rathod1, Reema Tavar2, Jignesh Kothari1. 1. Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Center (Affiliated with B.J. Medical College), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. 2. Department of Anesthesia, U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Center (Affiliated with B.J. Medical College), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe our experience with the presentation and management of cardiac echinococcosis and the outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study from January 2012 to September 2017 in 10 patients operated on for cardiac echinococcosis. There were 6 men and 4 women; the age range was 17-55 years (mean age, 35.9 ± 12.04 years). Among the 10 patients, 3 had multiple cysts and of the 7 patients with a solitary cyst, 5 cysts were in the left ventricle, 1 was in the right ventricle and 1 was in the interventricular septum. All patients were evaluated with electrocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging of the thorax, ultrasound examinations of the abdominal organs, haemagglutination tests and histopathological examination of the cyst. RESULTS: Nine operations were performed using cardiopulmonary bypass. One patient with a pericardial cyst was operated on with a beating heart with cystectomy and partial pericardiectomy. Preoperatively, all patients received albendazole for 2 weeks except for 1 patient who had an emergency operation. Albendazole was continued postoperatively in all patients for 12 weeks. There were no postoperative complications. No recurrences have been observed so far. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac echinococcosis is an infrequently encountered entity, but with clinical suspicion and early diagnosis it can be successfully managed with good outcomes.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe our experience with the presentation and management of cardiac echinococcosis and the outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study from January 2012 to September 2017 in 10 patients operated on for cardiac echinococcosis. There were 6 men and 4 women; the age range was 17-55 years (mean age, 35.9 ± 12.04 years). Among the 10 patients, 3 had multiple cysts and of the 7 patients with a solitary cyst, 5 cysts were in the left ventricle, 1 was in the right ventricle and 1 was in the interventricular septum. All patients were evaluated with electrocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging of the thorax, ultrasound examinations of the abdominal organs, haemagglutination tests and histopathological examination of the cyst. RESULTS: Nine operations were performed using cardiopulmonary bypass. One patient with a pericardial cyst was operated on with a beating heart with cystectomy and partial pericardiectomy. Preoperatively, all patients received albendazole for 2 weeks except for 1 patient who had an emergency operation. Albendazole was continued postoperatively in all patients for 12 weeks. There were no postoperative complications. No recurrences have been observed so far. CONCLUSIONS:Cardiac echinococcosis is an infrequently encountered entity, but with clinical suspicion and early diagnosis it can be successfully managed with good outcomes.