Cardiac tumor removal is a surgical procedure aimed at excising tumors located within the heart. These tumors can be benign or malignant and may impact heart function, causing symptoms such as arrhythmias, heart failure, or embolic events. The goal of the surgery is to alleviate these symptoms and prevent complications.
The actual cardiac tumor removal surgery involves several stages:
Anesthesia:
- The patient is given general anesthesia to ensure they are completely unconscious and pain-free during the procedure.
Accessing the heart:
- The surgeon makes an incision in the chest (sternotomy or less invasive approaches) to access the heart. In some cases, minimally invasive techniques may be used.
Cardiopulmonary bypass:
- The patient is connected to a heart-lung machine that takes over the heart’s pumping and oxygenating functions during the surgery.
Tumor excision:
- The surgeon locates and carefully removes the tumor from the heart. In some cases, surrounding tissue may also need to be removed to ensure complete excision.
Reconstruction:
- If necessary, the surgeon repairs any areas of the heart affected by the tumor removal. This may involve repairing heart valves or reconstructing heart chambers.
Closure and recovery:
- Once the tumor is removed and the heart is repaired, the heart-lung machine is disconnected, and the surgical incisions are closed. The patient is then moved to a recovery area for close monitoring.
We understand that navigating treatment and diagnosis options can be challenging. The information on this page is meant to give you a general overview of the various approaches. Your healthcare provider will determine specific treatment and diagnostic options based on your individual diagnosis, medical history, and other factors.