[Clinical experience with surgical management of atrial myxoma]

Clinical data (symptoms, diagnostic tools, surgical and histological findings, postoperative course and present status) of 26 patients with cardiac myxomas were reviewed. All myxomas were of left atrial localization. The diagnosis was confirmed by cardiac catheterization and angiography (until late seventies) and echocardiography. The delay between diagnosis and surgical management was minimalized. There was one early postoperative death. During follow-up period, one patient died, most patients live without symptoms. No recurrences have been found by echocardiographic follow-up examinations. Late consequences can be revealed by careful follow-up and regular echocardiographic studies.