[Cardiac hydatid cyst about 17 operated cases]. / Les kystes hydatiques cardiaques à propos de 17 cas opérés.

Cardiac hydatid cyst is a rare parasitic disease. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical, pathological features and the outcome of the surgical treatment of cardiac hydatid disease in our unit over a twenty-year period. METHODS: Between May 1994 and May 2014, seventeen cases of cardiac hydatid cysts were operated at our unit. Overall, twelve patients were male (mean age 25±13years). All patients were complaining of dyspnea and 71% presented with chest pain. The diagnosis, based on histological examination, was suspected on echocardiography and computed tomography of chest. RESULTS: Our study revealed five possible locations, which were in decreasing order of frequency: left ventricle, interventricular septum, right ventricle, left atrium and pulmonary artery. The surgical procedure was a controlled puncture and aspiration of the cyst content, with cystectomy (69%), or pericystectomy (31%). The resulting cavity left open in 6 cases (37.5%) or carefully closed in 10 (62.5%). Hospital mortality was 11.8% (n=2). Morbidity was marked by conduction abnormalities (n=2), bleeding and hematoma of the residual cavity that required surgical treatment (n=3). Eleven patients were followed with a mean period of 40.5±19.4 months. At follow-up, neither late deaths nor recurrence have occurred. CONCLUSION: Cardiac hydatid cyst is a serious disease whose treatment is surgical. Cystectomy and pericystectomy remain the two surgical techniques able to offer good chance of cure with acceptable morbidity and mortality.

[Aortic infective endocarditis: Value of surgery. About 48 cases]. / Endocardite infectieuse aortique : intérêt de la chirurgie. À propos de 48 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious disease whose prognosis depends on early management. Aortic location is characterized by its evolution toward myocardial failure and the high number of complications reasons for early surgery. AIM: To compare the short- and mid-terms results of surgery for aortic infective endocarditis (IE) in the active phase and the healed phase. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively the data of 48 consecutive patients operated for aortic infective endocarditis between January 2000 and January 2012. The data on operative mortality, morbidity and major cardiovascular events (mortality, recurrent endocarditis, reintervention, and stroke) were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (48%) underwent surgery during the active phase (group I), 19 on native and 4 on prosthetic valves, and 25 patients (52%) were operated during healed endocarditis (group II) only on native valve. Mean age was 39 years (12-81) with a male predominance (83%). Rheumatic valvular disease was the main etiology of underlying valvular disease in both groups (85%). The clinical feature was dominated by signs of cardiogenic shock in group I and dyspnea exertion stage III-IV NYHA in group II. Streptococcus and Staphylococcus germs were most frequently encountered. Indication for surgery was heart failure in group I, it was related to the symptoms, the severity of valvular disease and its impact on the left ventricle in group II. An aortic valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis was performed in the majority of cases (83%). Postoperative mortality concerned only one patient in group I. Twenty-one patients (44%) were followed for a mean of 30 months (1-72). One patient in group II died following cerebral hemorrhagic stroke related to accident with vitamin K antagonist. In both groups, there was an improvement in the functional class. No recurrence of endocarditis was noted in both groups during follow-up. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of infective endocarditis of the aortic valve is severe due to the fast progression to heart failure. Early medical and surgical approach provides good results on morbidity and mortality in the short- and mid-terms.