Resection of a Heart Tumor using Autotransplantation

Abstract

A 38 year old male patient presented with a cardiac tumor. Echocardiography and visualization of the left atrium revealed a large myxoma. Surgical resection of the tumor was performed with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass. The extensive size of the tumor base and its localisation at the posterior left atrial wall made a conventional approach impossible. Therefore radical resection of the tumor was undertaken using autotransplantation. After a routine postoperative course, the patient was discharged on the twenty seventh hospital day.

Cardiac Tumors

“…Lifting the heart out of the body means it can be turned for optimal visualization of all structures. Following tumor resection the cardiac anatomy is restored using artificial materials (prostheses, patches, valves) or biological tissue before the heart is reimplanted ( Figure 5) (34)(35)(36)(37). Depending on the amount of cardiac tissue excised, left and/or right heart failure may result as a secondary complication.…”

Primary cardiac sarcoma

“…Although their patient died of metastatic disease, there was no evidence of local recurrence at autopsy. Others have reported this technique [89,90].…”

Explantation of the Heart for Resection of Primary Cardiac Tumors can be Avoided by PartialEx SituHeart Surgery

“…We have read with interest the recent publication by Hoffmeier et al concerning ex situ resection of large primary cardiac tumors [1]. The authors of this article report two patients with large tumors involving the posterior wall of the left atrium and the atrial roof, respectively [2]. In both cases, the heart was explanted and the tumor was resected ex situ followed by cardiac autotransplantation.…”