⁣Removing a Chagas Diseased Heart

Chagas heart disease, a form of a dilated cardiomyo*pathy caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major cause of cardiovascular related death in endemic areas. Although Chagas disease occurs significantly less often in Switzerland, physicians should be aware of the disease, especially in times of increased migration and mobility.

Chagas heart disease involves progressive myocardial fibrosis, left ventricular dilatation and dysfunction, ventricular aneurysm, congestive heart failure, thromboembolism, ventricular arrhythmias, cardiac conduction system abnormalities and sudden cardiac death, which is the main cause of death in patients with *Chagas heart disease.

This article describes a rare case of Chagas heart disease in a young woman in Switzerland and gives an overview of the disease including diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.