Surgical treatment of primary intracardiac myxoma: 19 years of experience

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2011 Dec;13(6):597-600. doi: 10.1510/icvts.2011.278705. Epub 2011 Sep 4.

Abstract

Cardiac myxoma is the most common benign tumor of the heart. It presents with a variety of clinical signs and symptomatology making diagnosis frequently quite a challenge. We review our experience with 41 patients who underwent surgical intervention for cardiac myxoma between 1994 and 2011. All patients' preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative characteristics were recorded. They all had a standard sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass with cardioplegic cardiac arrest and were followed up with clinical examination and echocardiography. The surgical goal was to remove not only the tumor but the whole area of attachment to prevent recurrence. Biatrial approach facilitated the complete excision of the tumor. Surgical excision of cardiac myxoma carries a low-operative risk and gives excellent short- and long-term results.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures* / adverse effects
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures* / mortality
  • Cardiopulmonary Bypass
  • Female
  • Greece
  • Heart Arrest, Induced
  • Heart Neoplasms / mortality
  • Heart Neoplasms / pathology
  • Heart Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myxoma / mortality
  • Myxoma / pathology
  • Myxoma / surgery*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / prevention & control*
  • Sternotomy
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult