Hydatid disease and massive cardiac involvement

Abstract

Cardiac hydatid cysts are rare and represent 0.5-2% of all cases. Cardiac localization of hydatid cysts usually occurs in adults. Diagnosis is difficult because of the long latency between infection and manifestation of the disease, and also symptoms are nonspecific. We present a case study of 13-year-old girl with lots of hydatid cysts localized in the neighbourhood of the inferior vena cava right atrium and the superior vena cava right pulmonary artery aorta and posterior portion of the left atrium and the left ventricle, and the intramyocardium of the posterior wall of the left ventricle. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed a solitary cyst in the right posterior lobe of the liver. Following albendazole therapy for 3 weeks, she was operated on without cardiopulmonary bypass. Numerous alive and dead cysts were removed. Hepatic cysts were drained by percutaneous ultrasonography guided aspiration technique after surgery. On the 8th postoperative day, she was discharged while she was still on albendazole therapy.