New minimally invasive surgical approach for excision of left atrial myxoma

A novel minimally invasive technique for left atrial myxoma surgery involving a combination of mini-sternotomy and restricted left atrial dome incision is described. Surgery is performed through a mini-J sternotomy at third intercostal space and a standard aorto-right atrial cannulation. Exposure of cardiac mass is obtained by a restricted incision of the left atrial dome which provides excellent view of the entire interatrial septum. Base of the tumor base is clearly visualized making the en-bloc excision extremely easy. Three cases were successfully treated with this technique and discharged with mild analgesic requirements. The limited invasiveness and the avoidance of wide incisions in the heart chambers are points of strength of this approach and allow to overcome the limitations of the currently used interatrial groove or transeptal approaches, as scarce visualization of the septum and site of tumor attachment and risk of conduction disturbances or traumatic injury to the mass.