[Combined superior-transseptal approach to left atrial myxoma]

A 60-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for treatment of an intracardiac tumor Echocardiography revealed a 47 x 30 mm tumor in the left atrium which had a short stalk attached to the atrial septum. At operation, a large left atrial myxoma was extirpated using a combine superior transseptal approach. Through this incision, exposure of the left atrial myxoma and it stalk was excellent and removal of the myxoma was easily performed with minimal minpulation. Postoperative arrhythmias related to the operative procedures were not observed. The patient recovered uneventfully. The operative technique and indications of the combined superior transseptal approach to the left atrium are discussed in this paper.