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Cardiac rhabdomyoma: surgical treatment in the neonate
Insights
Surgical removal of cardiac rhabdomyoma in neonates offers hope. Two of the youngest infants ever survived successful operations for symptomatic ventricular tumors, demonstrating early intervention feasibility.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Neonatal Medicine
Background:
- Primary cardiac tumors are rare, with rhabdomyoma being the most common benign tumor in infants and children.
- Cardiac rhabdomyoma in neonates has a historically poor prognosis, with high mortality rates within the first year of life.
Observation:
- This report details the successful surgical removal of symptomatic ventricular cardiac rhabdomyoma in two extremely young infants.
- The operations were performed within the first day of life, utilizing left and right ventriculotomy approaches respectively.
Findings:
- Successful surgical intervention for cardiac rhabdomyoma is possible even in the neonatal period.
- Early surgical removal of symptomatic tumors can alter the natural history of this condition.
Implications:
- These cases suggest that timely surgical intervention may improve outcomes for neonates with cardiac rhabdomyoma.
- Further research into optimal surgical timing and techniques for neonatal cardiac tumors is warranted.
Abstract:
Primary cardiac tumors are rare. Of the benign lesions, rhabdomyoma predominates in infants and children. The natural history of patients with cardiac rhabdomyoma is poor. About 50% die in the first month of life and 80% by 1 year of age. We report on the two youngest infants ever operated upon successfully for removal of symptomatic ventricular cardiac rhabdomyoma. The operations were performed through a left ventriculotomy in one and through a right ventriculotomy in the other during the first day of life.