Atrial myxoma and thrombiAtrial myxoma are benign cardiac tumors found growing in the upper (atrial) chambers of the heart. They may be classified as right or left atrial myxomas depending on which chamber wall they inhabit. Although their occurence is rare, atrial myxomas account for about 75 percent of all cardiac tumors.
Thrombi, or blood clots, may form on the outside of the tumor. In some cases fragments of the myxoma and thrombi may break off and enter the blood stream causing a potentially dangerous blockage. In other cases, myxoma may grow so large that the flow of blood through the heart is impeded.
Treament of atrial myxoma and thrombi is surgical removal. Traditional surgical treatment involves opening the chest of the patient along the sternum to access the heart and remove the myxoma along with any thrombi present. This results in a large scar and a lengthy recovery time. With the advent of minimally-invasive robotic surgery, however, a new approach to the treatment of atrial myxoma became available resulting in less trauma, less pain and faster recovery.
Saint Joseph's Center for Robotic Surgery offers this innovative approach to treating atrial myxoma and thrombi through the use of the da Vinci Surgical System. For the clinically appropriate patient, the da Vinci minimally-invasive procedure offers a number of potential benefits, including:
- Less post-operative pain
- Less scarring
- Less risk of infection
- Less anesthesia
- Less blood loss
- Shorter hospital stay
- Faster and more complete recovery
- Quicker return to normal daily activities
For more information about robotic surgery, call 1-866-SJ-ROBOT (1-866-757-6268).
For more information about Saint Joseph's Center for Heart & Vascular Care, call 404-851-5111.
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