Off-pump technique for the treatment of ventricular myocardial echinococcosis

Background This study was planned to investigate the off-pump operability of ventricular myocardial Echinococcosis, which has no close relation with the cardiac chambers. Methods Twenty patients with cardiac echinococcosis, and 2 patients with isolated pericardial echinococcosis were operated on. Hydatid cysts were located in the ventricular wall in 17 patients and 10 of these 17 patients were operated without cardiopulmonary bypass. We present these 10 patients in this report. We used transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and peroperative surface echocardiography (PSE) to determine the relation of cysts with cardiac chambers. The cysts were aspirated for diagnosis and to facilitate the dissection. Cyst cavities were left open in all cases. Results We did not observe any early complication and in long-term follow-up only one patient underwent reoperation 68 months after her first operation due to reoccurrence. Conclusions Ventricular myocardial echinococcosis without relation with the cardiac chambers can be operated without using cardiopulmonary bypass with the aid of TEE, PSE, and controlled cyst fluid aspiration.