How Do You Remove An Intracardiac Tumor?

Primary tumors of the heart are rare. They are almost always benign and almost always occur in the left atrium. The danger to the patient primarily is the risk of embolization. A piece breaks off and moves to the brain causing a stroke, or of obstructing blood flow through the heart.

Almost all tumors are excised through a sternal splitting operation. Almost all intracardiac tumors can be removed with the da Vinci Robot. The operation is done just like a robot mitral valve repair through a tiny incision in the right chest. Recovery time is two weeks versus two months for a sternal approach. There are fewer transfusions, fewer infections, less pain and better cosmetic results.