Cardiac Hydatid Disease - Abstract
Human Echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by ingestion of parasites egg, tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus present in food, water or contaminated soil or by direct contact with host animals. Is present on every continent, with a higher prevalence in rural regions of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Middle East and southern Europe. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are about 1 million people affected by echinococcosis in the world. In Latin America hydatid disease affects mainly agricultural and pastoral regions and is often associated with low-income populations and high rurality, with an average fatality rate of 2.9%, responsible for more than 300,000 hospital days.
Although cardiac involvement in hydatid disease is rare, in represents only 0.5-3% of all hydatid cysts in humans, cardiac cysts are extremely dangerous because they often break and can produce pericardial tamponade, anaphylaxis, embolisms and dissemination of scolex, so this clinic presentation represents an interesting surgical challenge.