Minimally invasive resection of papillary fibroelastoma in a high-risk patient

Papillary fibroelastomas are rare, benign cardiac tumors that typically mandate surgical resection. These are usually approached through a median sternotomy with cardioplegic arrest and aortic cross-clamping. We describe the minimally invasive resection of a right atrial fibroelastoma performed on a beating heart via right mini-thoracotomy in a patient complicated by a previous laryngectomy, radiation therapy, and a left-sided pulmonary malignancy.