Right-ventricular myxoma presenting as right-ventricular outflow-tract obstruction--case report and review of the literature

Myxoma of the right ventricle is of very rare occurrence. An adult male patient presented with Class III dyspnoea and occasional haemoptysis and clinically was suspected to have pulmonary stenosis. Magnetic resonance imaging study revealed presence of myxoma arising from the right-ventricular free wall and prolapsing into the pulmonary artery but not involving the pulmonary valve. The myxoma was excised via right ventriculotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient had an uneventful recovery. The relevant literature is reviewed.

Repeat open intracardiac operation--analysis of 55 patients

Of the 4170 open intracardiac operations performed at our hospital in the last 6 years, 55 (1.3%) were reoperations. Of these failed valve repairs or valve substitutes formed the major group (58%) and the interval between first and second operation ranged from 6 months to 8 years. There were 4 deaths on table and another 6 patients died during their hospital stay giving an early mortality rate of 18 per cent. There was one late death during a follow-up period of 1 month to 3 years. There was no death due to perioperative bleeding complications. We conclude that it should now be possible to perform reoperations with an acceptable mortality and good late functional results.