Surgical management of right atrial myxomas. A 15 year experience with review of the literature

BACKGROUND: A retrospective study to evaluate the clinical symptoms, signs, investigations, surgical technique and follow-up of an uncommon cardiac tumour. METHODS: Experimental design and setting: this retrospective study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital in South India on patients treated from 1981 to 1996. Duration of follow-up has been for a maximum period of 9.5 years. Participants: all patients who were diagnosed to have right atrial myxoma were included in this study. There were seven patients (4 males, 3 females) with ages ranging from 16 to 52 years. Interventions: six of these patients underwent complete excision. One patient who presented with SVC obstruction had locally invasive tumour and only a biopsy was done. In order to reduce the risk of intraoperative pulmonary embolism in the last two cases, we crossclamped the pulmonary artery as soon as cardiopulmonary bypass was initiated. RESULTS: There was one postoperative death due to refractory right ventricular failure (14.3%). Four patients have been followed-up for a mean of 40.7 months. All of them are free of recurrence and most of them are asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Right atrial myxoma is a rare usually benign cardiac tumor whose definitive diagnosis is made on the basis of 2D echocardiography. The crucial aspects of surgery are measures for prevention of intraoperative embolism, en-bloc excision of the tumour with a wide cuff of normal tissue and inspection of all four chambers in order to avoid missing tumour emboli or an occasional multicentric lesion. Patients with myxomatous emboli into the pulmonary artery require simultaneous pulmonary embolectomy.     

Right ventricular myxoma: diagnostic and surgical considerations

A 26-year-old patient with right ventricular myxoma is reported. He underwent emergency removal of the tumour because of several syncopal episodes. Diagnosis was suspected clinically and confirmed by echocardiography and angiocardiography. The tumour arose from the anterior wall of the right ventricle and was resected with its pedicle. Five years after the operation, the patient is asymptomatic without clinical or echocardiographic evidence of recurrence. The authors underline the need for a close follow-up of patients with cardiac myxoma utilizing the non-invasive technique of echocardiography and emphasize the good early and late results obtained in their patient with surgical removal of the tumour.     

Emergency surgery after percutaneous transmitral commissurotomy: operative versus echocardiographic findings, mechanisms of complications, and outcomes

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the clinical profile of patients undergoing emergency surgery after balloon mitral valvotomy, to note operative findings and compare them with those of transthoracic echocardiography, to describe the mechanisms of complications, and to describe outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective study was undertaken of patients requiring emergency surgery after percutaneous mitral valvotomy with an Inoue balloon from January 1990 to December 2003. The data analyzed included demographic variables, causes and clinical presentations of complications, and outcome. In 14 consecutive cases of mitral regurgitation, an observational study comparing the operative findings with echocardiography was also undertaken. RESULTS: In 1388 cases of valvotomy, complications necessitating urgent surgery occurred in 31 cases (2.2%). Acute mitral regurgitation occurred in 23 cases (74.2%), and cardiac tamponade occurred in 8 cases (25.8%). Mitral regurgitation was due to leaflet tearing in all cases: anterior leaflet in 20 cases and posterior leaflet in 3 cases. Hypotension, orthopnea, and pulmonary edema were the clinical presentation for mitral regurgitation. Transthoracic echocardiography underestimated the severity of mitral valve pathology. Bilateral severe commissural fusion and pliable leaflet with paracommissural calcium was seen in anterior leaflet tearing. Cardiac tamponade with hemodynamic compromise occurred as a result of left atrial perforation in 6 cases, right atrial perforation in 1 case, and left ventricular perforation in 1 case. High septal puncture led to atrial perforation. Operative mortality was 9.6%, and low cardiac output developed in 29%. CONCLUSION: Acute mitral regurgitation and cardiac tamponade were the causes of emergency surgery after balloon valvotomy. Transthoracic echocardiography underestimated the severity of valve pathology.     

Surgery for primary cardiac tumors. Clinical experience and surgical results in 60 patients

BACKGROUND: We reviewed our clinical experience with primary cardiac tumors, attempting to clarify the surgical management of these rare entities. METHODS: Between October 1978 and November 1999, we experienced 60 surgical cases of primary cardiac tumors. There were 23 male and 37 female patients (age range, 7 months to 84 years). Tumors included the following 3 groups: myxomas (n=49), nonmyxoma benign tumors (n=3), and malignant tumors (n=8). We reviewed the presenting symptoms, diagnostic data, anatomical findings, and surgical techniques, and evaluated the surgical RESULTS. Late follow-up was 95% complete (mean follow-up, 7.7+/-7.1 years). RESULTS: Tumors produced obstructive, embolic, and/or constitutional symptoms in most cases. Generally, echocardiography alone gave sufficient information for operation. Full-thickness excision was performed in 42 patients with myxoma. Complete excision was achieved in all of the nonmyxoma benign tumors and in none of the malignancies. Early mortalities in the 3 groups were 8.2% (4/49), 0% (0/3), and 12.5% (1/8), respectively. Late mortalities were 9.5% (4/42), 0% (0/3), and 100% (7/7), respectively. One patient with myxoma had recurrence, the cause of which was likely to be inadequate resection. The late deaths in patients with malignancies were due to metastasis or local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Benign tumors are generally curable if surgically excised. Preoperative refractory cardiac dysfunction or embolism should be avoided by the accurate evaluation on echocardiography. The prognosis of malignant tumors is poor if they are only debulked. However, aggressive surgery that can palliate obstruction and allow time for adjuvant therapy should be carried out.     

Modern surgical treatment of massive pulmonary embolism: results in 47 consecutive patients after rapid diagnosis and aggressive surgical approach

OBJECTIVES: This study retrospectively reviews an aggressive multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of massive pulmonary embolism, centering on rapid diagnosis with contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the chest to define the location and degree of clot burden and transthoracic echocardiography to document right ventricular strain followed by immediate surgical intervention when appropriate. METHODS: Between October 1999 through February 2004, 47 patients (30 men and 17 women; median age, 58 years; age range, 24-86 years) underwent emergency surgical embolectomy for massive central pulmonary embolism. The indications for surgical intervention were (1) contraindications to thrombolysis (21/47 [45%]), (2) failed medical treatment (5/47 [10%]), and (3) right ventricular dysfunction (15/47 [32%]). Preoperatively, 12 (26%) of 47 patients were in cardiogenic shock, and 6 (11%) of 47 were in cardiac arrest. RESULTS: There were 3 (6%) operative deaths, 2 with preoperative cardiac arrest; 2 of these 3 patients required a right ventricular assist device. In 38 (81%) patients a caval filter was placed intraoperatively. Median length of stay was 11 days (range, 3-75 days). Median follow-up was 27 months (range, 2-50 months); follow-up was 100% complete in surviving patients. There were 6 (12%) late deaths, 5 of which were from metastatic cancer. Actuarial survival at 1 and 3 years' follow-up was 86% and 83%, respectively. CONCLUSION: An aggressive approach to large pulmonary embolus, including rapid diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention, has improved results with surgical embolectomy. We now perform surgical pulmonary embolectomy not only in patients with large central clot burden and hemodynamic compromise but also in hemodynamically stable patients with right ventricular dysfunction documented by means of echocardiography.     

Clinical experience and surgical considerations in the management of cardiac myxomas

Objectives We studied the clinical presentation of cardiac myxomas and the morbidity, mortality and recurrence rate following surgery at our institution over a 9 year period. Patients and Methods Between January 1995 and October 2003, a total no of 6803 cardiac operations were performed. Of these 61 patients (28 males, 33 females) underwent complete excision of primary or recurrent intracardiac myxomas. Pre-operative diagnosis was established by echocardiography. All patients underwent operation soon after the diagnosis of a myxoma was made. Complete tumor excision with a cuff of interatrial septum followed by close inspection and copious saline irrigation of the cardiac chambers was done in each case. Of the 57 patients who survived the surgery, 53 patients were followed up at regular intervals for recurrence. The mean follow-up period was 56 months. Results Myxomas constituted 0.89% of the total cardiac operations at our institution. They most commonly occurred in the fourth decade. The commonest location was the Left Atrium (LA) (80%) followed by the Right Atrium (18%). Only one patient had myxoma in the Right Ventricle(RV). Patients with LA myxoma simulated mitral stenosis clinically whereas all patients with RA myxoma presented with features of right heart failure. A smaller percentage presented with embolic and constitutional symptoms. 57 patients (i.e. 94%) survived the operation. 2 recurences were noted, one at 3 years and the second 8 years after surgery. No late deaths were observed in this study. Conclusion Myxomas formed a 0.9% of cardiac operations performed at our institution. This figure is higher than that reported in western literature(0.3%). A high index of suspicion is essential for diagnosis. Echocardiography is the ideal diagnostic tool as also for follow-up. Immediate surgical treatment is indicated in all patients. Cardiac myxomas can be excised with a low rate of mortality and morbidity. Our data suggests the need for close follow up of all patients for long periods to detect recurrence.     

Primary Cardiac Myxomas: Clinical Experience and Surgical Results in 67 Patients

Abstract   Background: Primary cardiac tumors are rarely seen and have an incidence of 0.3% of all open-cardiac operations. Among those, myxoma is the most common cardiac tumor. There are only a few reports of such tumors from Turkey. Methods and Results: We report our experience with 67 patients with primary cardiac myxoma operated on at our institute between December 1990 and October 2006. The study group comprised 22.38% males and 77.61% females with a mean age of 46.29 (±18.29) years. The predominant symptoms were dyspnea and palpitation. In addition, 3 patients presented with peripheral embolism with impending limb ischemia that necessitated emergency embolectomy. Echocardiography was generally enough for the demonstration of the myxomas. Two sporadic myxomas (%2.98) and one familial myxomas (1.49%) presented with recurrence. There were three (4.47%) hospital mortalities. Two patients (2.27%), with preoperative decompensation, died after tumor resection, from progressive low cardiac output. One patient, with preoperative massive pulmonary embolus, died two days after operation, from right ventricle insufficient. Conclusion: In conclusion, we herein summarized surgical results with primary cardiac myxomas. Surgical excision of primary cardiac myxomas tends to show excellent results after surgical excision.     

Surgical management of cardiac myxoma

OBJECTIVE: Between 1994 and December 2003, 55 patients were operated for cardiac myxoma in Kosuyolu Heart and Research Hospital in Istanbul. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed our results according to the preoperative characteristics, operative procedures, and postoperative courses. RESULTS: Of 55 patients operated, 36 (65.4%) were female and 19 (34.6%) male. The average age of the patients was 48 +/- 15.5 years (range, 12-75). Thirteen patients (23.6%) previously had cerebrovascular accidents. Peripheral arterial emboli had occurred in 11 (20%) patients. The majority of the patients (44.4%) were in NYHA Class II preoperatively. One patient was presented with Carney's complex. Most frequent location was the left atrium (85.2%). Eight patients had concommitant surgery together with myxoma extirpation. Postoperative courses were uneventful. Three patients had a new onset atrial fibrillation, two had transient conduction disturbances. There were two (3.6%) in-hospital deaths. No recurrences have been noted during the 82.4 +/- 40.6 months (a total of 315.75 patient/years) follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management of cardiac myxoma gives excellent results. In selected cases, a conservative approach may be adequate. Despite the scarcity of the neoplastic properties, careful follow-up is necessary.     

Second recurrence of cardiac myxoma 7 years after the initial operation

We report a rare case of a 23-year-old woman in who recurrent multiple cardiac myxomas were resected first time 4 years after the initial operation and second time three years after the second operation. In February 2000, she was diagnosed with right ventricular myxoma. The initial cardiac tumor was successfully resected through a right atrium approach and the tricuspid valve was changed with a biological prosthesis; the patient has been followed-up by ultrasound echocardiography every 6-month after discharge. Four years after, the echocardiography revealed one masse in the left atrium, which was resected using a trans-septal approach. Due to malfunction of the tricuspid prosthesis, this was changed with a biological one. After another three years, the echocardiography revealed once again two masses, this time in the right atrium and left ventricle. The third surgery was performed and all 2 myxomas were successfully resected through a combined right atrial and left ventricle approach. One year after the third operation, she has been doing well without any sign of recurrence of myxoma. A long-term follow-up is mandatory in patients after the resection of a cardiac myxoma.     

Treatment of life-threatening huge atrial myxoma: Report of two cases

We herein report two patients with left atrial myxoma who needed an emergency operation. Case 1 was a 48-year-old woman who was injured in a traffic accident and underwent an operation for a right leg fracture. Just after the operation she developed cardiac and respiratory arrest with complaints of chest pain. She was successfully resuscitated and diagnosed to have a left atrial myxoma by echocardiography. Emergency surgery was performed and a giant left atrial myxoma was thus removed from the atrial septum. Case 2 was a 54-year-old housewife who was transferred to our department under the diagnosis of a left atrial myxoma by echocardiography. She complained of dyspnea and chest discomfort. By angiography, the tumor was seen to be partially incarcerated at the diastolic phase. A huge myxoma was removed from the atrial septum which was secured by a patch closure. Cardiac echocardiography can help rule out left atrial myxoma if it is highly suspected. As early surgical mortality is low and the long-term results are good, we strongly believe that patients with cardiac myxoma should be operated on as early as possible, once a diagnosis is made.     

Surgical considerations in the treatment of cardiac myxoma

Misinterpretation of confusing cardiac, constitutional, and embolic symptoms delayed the diagnosis of cardiac myxoma and caused two of 18 patients to undergo acute operations during cardiogenic shock with pulmonary edema. In recent cases echocardiographic screening of unclear cardiac symptoms gave the correct diagnosis early. Despite the simple surgical procedure (excision of tumor and underlying endocardium), the postoperative course was complicated by cardiac failure, arrhythmias, and systemic reactions. Prosthetic valve thrombosis and malignancy caused two early deaths. Two patients died later of cerebrovascular insults. Both belonged to a group of five patients having preoperative emboli from fragile myxomas. Four of these five had coronary or cerebral myxomatous pseudoaneurysms. A 6 year follow-up, including recatheterization, showed no tumor recurrence and generally normalization of the clinical condition, heart size, and catheterization findings. Even pronounced mitral insufficiency accompanying left atrial myxomas had subsided spontaneously. Tricuspid insufficiency in two patients with right atrial myxomas persisted, necessitating reoperation in one. When diagnosed, a cardiac myxoma should be removed promptly to reduce cardiac and embolic complications, including myxomatous pseudoaneurysm formation, which might be more frequent than previously recognized.     

Cardiac tumors in 19 years of private practice

Since 1966 the authors have encountered nine cardiac tumors: eight myxomas and one tumor initially thought to be a sarcoma but histologically a squamous carcinoma. Seven myxomas were left atrial and the other were right atrial in location. The carcinoma was predominantly located in the right ventricle. Eight of the nine patients were female; ages ranged from 32 to 85 years. Of the myxomas, five displayed fever and dyspnea, two congestive heart failure and one transient ischemic episodes. The patient with carcinoma was in right heart failure. All patients underwent cardiac catheterization as well as echocardiography when it became available. Five myxomas were correctly diagnosed preoperatively while three were thought to have mitral stenosis. The patient with carcinoma showed a large right ventricular filling defect and a picture of constriction. All myxoma patients underwent surgery--three via left thoracotomy and five via sternotomy. Seven patients survived; however, the patient with right atrial myxoma was explored via the left chest for mitral stenosis and the myxoma was not discovered. She died of a pulmonary embolism pathologically confirmed as myxoma. All survivors have been followed by yearly echocardiograms and are free of recurrence. The patient with carcinoma died before surgery could be performed. Autopsy revealed almost complete replacement of the right ventricle by tumor and constrictive pericarditis. The terminal event was pulmonary embolus of squamous carcinoma. Although cardiac tumors are a rare entity, a high incidence of suspicion plus modern diagnostic methods can yield the diagnosis and allow a curative operation.     

Surgical treatment of cardiac myxomas

Information of 40 patients operated on for cardiac myxoma was reviewed. The age ranges were as follows: nine patients, 20 to 30 years; seven patients, 31 to 40 years; 10 patients, 41 to 50 years; and 11 patients, over 50 years. One patient each was 14 months, 14 years, and 16 years old. Left atrial myxoma was diagnosed in 31 patients, left ventricular myxoma in one, right atrial myxoma in five, and right ventricular myxoma in two. Multiple calcified right atrial and ventricular myxomas were detected in one patient. Detailed clinical characteristics and diagnostic methods are presented. The hospital mortality rate was 7.5%. At 15 years' follow-up practically all of the patients had good late results. There were no recurrent myxomas. Rare left ventricular myxomas and multiple calcified right atrial and ventricular myxomas involving a tricuspid valve are also presented.     

Surgically treated primary cardiac tumors in early infancy and childhood

OBJECTIVE: Primary heart tumors in childhood are rare and mostly benign. Surgical treatment is advocated when symptoms or hemodynamic impairment is present. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1986 and 2003, 8 children (3 males and 5 females, age ranging 5 days to 6.7 years, median 78 days) with a clinical diagnosis of cardiac mass were treated with surgery. Diagnosis was made by prenatal echocardiography in 3 patients and by 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography in 5 patients. RESULTS: Complete surgical excision of the cardiac mass was feasible in all but 1 patient who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation. Surgical pathology examination revealed myxoma in 2 patients, fibroma in 2 patients, rhabdomyoma in 2 patients (multiple in 1), hamartoma in 1 patient, and teratoma in 1 patient. One patient died of cerebral malignancy 38 months after cardiac transplantation. At a mean follow-up of 69.2 months (range 3-190 months), all the remaining patients are asymptomatic, with good ventricular function on 2-dimensional echocardiography and no signs of residual or recurrent tumor. CONCLUSION: Surgical excision of obstructive cardiac tumors in childhood is safely feasible. Heart transplantation may represent the only therapeutic option when the tumor extensively invades the ventricular walls. Although 2-dimensional echocardiography remains a reliable diagnostic tool, a definite diagnosis of tumor histotype requires a thorough histopathologic characterization.     

Rare forms of peripheral arterial embolism: review of 11 cases

The purpose of this study was to present 11 patients operated on owing to rare forms of peripheral arterial embolism at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of the Serbian Clinical Center over a period of 20 years. Three patients were operated on owing to a foreign body embolism, two owing to a septic embolism, three owing to emboli that originated from malignant tissues, two owing to an embolization from cardiac myxoma, and one owing to an embolism from a myxomatous atrial septal defect. The preoperative evaluation included clinical examination, laboratory findings, and electrocardiography; in the majority of cases, ultrasonography and angiography were performed. Surgical treatment included foreign body extraction in three cases; thromboembolectomy in seven cases, and artery resection and saphenous graft interposition in one patient with septic embolism. In addition, three cardiosurgical procedures were done: aortic valve replacement in the patient with a septic embolism and tumor excision in patients with atrial myxoma. In addition to the usual clinical signs of acute limb ischemia, in the rare forms of arterial embolism, the presence of certain uncommon clinical symptoms was also observed. The early results of vascular surgical treatment were very good in all patients. Further follow-up revealed a poor prognosis in patients with malignant arterial embolism.     

Cardial myxomas: a clinical diagnostic challenge.

Our experience consists of seven intracardiac myxomas in five patients seen over an 8 year period. It includes one patient who had three primary tumors, each anatomically distinct, occurring at 4 year intervals. The initial clinical presentation included embolic phenomena, unexplained neurologic symptoms, hemodynamic obstruction, and vague systemic illness. Preoperative diagnosis was confirmed by echocardiography or angiocardiography in all cases. At operation, only two of seven tumors were found to arise from the vicinity of the fossa ovalis; the other five arose from the atrial wall or ventricular septum. Wide resection of the tumors constituted the key to successful treatment. All patients have done well for periods of follow-up ranging from 6 months to 8 years. Awareness of cardiac myxoma is the key to diagnosis; treatment should be uniformly successful in all instances once the proper diagnosis has been made. Although recurrences are rare, all patients must be followed up closely for the development of new tumors, and a thorough investigation of all chambers must be conducted in patients with suspected recurrence.     

Malignant cardiac myxoma with cerebral metastases.

Two cases of cardiac myxoma with secondary involvement of the brain and death are reported. In one case, tumor emboli to the middle cerebral artery caused massive cerebral infarction, while in the other case true cerebral metastasis developed in the cerebrum and cerebellum, with rapid demise ensuing in both patients. It is emphasized that an emergency exists in cases ihat prompt echocardiography and computerized tomography of the brain are indicated. The second case represents the only instance of cardiac myxoma behaving as a true malignant neoplasm with actual invasion of the neural tissues recorded in the literature.     

An atypical presentation of aortic rupture: intuition and investigation can avoid disaster

INTRODUCTION: Patients with an acute abdomen are a common presentation for those participating in emergency surgery cover. The aetiology of this presentation incorporates the spectrum of organ systems and is often not identified satisfactorily. Nevertheless, certain diagnoses will always be difficult to make and some presentations can be deceptive. Radiological investigations increasingly play a role in establishing an accurate diagnosis and frequently allow prompt management to be instituted. INTRODUCTION: Patients with an acute abdomen are a common presentation for those participating in emergency surgery cover. The aetiology of this presentation incorporates the spectrum of organ systems and is often not identified satisfactorily. Nevertheless, certain diagnoses will always be difficult to make and some presentations can be deceptive. Radiological investigations increasingly play a role in establishing an accurate diagnosis and frequently allow prompt management to be instituted. INTRODUCTION: Ruptured AAA should be considered as a differential diagnosis in all elderly patients presenting with acute severe abdominal pain who may be haemodynamically stable. Atypical history and examination with inconsistent or equivocal clinical signs should raise the suspicion of aneurysm, particularly in elderly men with known arterial disease. There should be a low threshold for both requesting and justifying definitive imaging (ie CT) in such cases if a catastrophic outcome through misdiagnosis is to be avoided.     

Cardiac myxomas: 24 years of experience in 49 patients

Objectives: In this single-center study we reviewed our experience with a significant number of cardiac myxoma cases occurring over the past two decades. Patients and methods: Cardiac myxomas represented 86% of all surgically treated cardiac tumors at our center. Specifically, there were 49 consecutive patients, each with at least one myxoma. A detailed clinical, immunological, and echocardiographic long-term examination of 37 patients revealed one recurrent myxoma. Results: Most myxomas originated from the left atrium (87.7%), but also much less frequently from the mitral valve (6.1%), from the right atrium (4.1%), and from the left and right atria (2.0%). The myxomas produced a prolapse into the left ventricle in 40.8% of the patients, mitral stenosis in 10.2%, and threatened left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in 2.0%. Multiple myxomas were found in 20.4% of the patients. Cardiac signs appeared in 93.9% of the patients. Preoperative embolic events had occurred in 26.5%. Immunologic alterations were present in 87.5%. For resection, a bilateral atriotomy was used. An additional aortotomy was needed to expose one mitral valve myxoma. Postoperatively, 81.1% of the patients remained without cardiac symptoms. The early mortality rate was 2.0% and the late mortality rate was 6.1%. Long-term prognosis was excellent with an actuarial survival rate of 0.74. Specific immunologic alterations were found in 71.4% of the patients. The actuarial freedom from reoperation of the myxoma was 0.96. The rate of reoperations was low with 2.0% after 24 years. Conclusions: Myxomas were usually detected and operated on in symptomatic patients. A high index of suspicion seems important for early diagnosis. Immunologic findings may play an additional role in confirming the diagnosis and the recurrence of a myxoma. Immediate surgical treatment was indicated because of the high risk of embolization or of sudden cardiac death. Also, a familial genesis must be excluded in myxoma patients.     

Rupture of chordae tendineae associated myxoma of the left atrium

Mitral insufficiency is unusual in patients with left atrial myxoma. A patient with myxoma of the left atrium presented with acute pulmonary edema due to ruptured chordae tendineae. Both lesions were unequivocally demonstrated by echocardiography, permitting emergency surgical correction to be undertaken without recourse to angiographic studies. Despite the rarity of acute mitral regurgitation due to rupture of chordae tendineae in association with left atrial myxoma, with only one such case previously reported, an etiologic relationship between the two disorders can be postulated. The association between the two thus should not be unexpected.