[Echinococcosis of the heart].
Basic clinical and special methods of diagnosis of cardiac echinococcosis are described. Among 12 patients with cardiac echinococcosis 5 patients have been operated and 7 patients have been not. Five of seven non-operated patients died during 1 year due to disruption of the cysts. All 5 operated patients survived. It is demonstrated that surgical treatment should be performed with artificial extracorporeal circulation, and postoperative anti-recurrent anti-helminth therapy is mandatory. Medication before surgical procedures is contraindicated because it leads to cysts disruption with high risk of lethal outcome.