Right Atrial Tumor A Contraindication to Minimally Invasive Surgery?

Abstract

Cardiac tumors are rarely observed. The incidence of primary cardiac tumors in autopsy series ranges from 0.0017% to 0.19%. 1,2 Surgical resection is the main therapy for the majority of the cardiac tumors. Surgical treatment of these tumors carries an operative mortality rate of 3% or less. 4 In this article, we present our experience with a female patient, who had a right sided atrial tumor mimicking a myxoma. Port access surgery was performed through a small right sided "key-hole" working port in the fourth intercostal space. Extracorporeal circulation was conducted by femoro-femoral bypass and a kinetic assisted venous drainage system. Although, the safety and efficacy of port access approach have been well documented for resection of left atrial tumors in some series, 14,17 use of this technique for right atrial tumor resection can be detrimental.