title: Surgical treatment of cardiac myxomas: long-term results.
abstract: Between 1965 and 1988, 22 patients underwent 24 operations for cardiac myxomas. Two patients had the complex myxoma syndrome. Mitral valve replacement was required at initial operation in 2 patients. One patient died perioperatively, and 5 others died subsequently. The 16 surviving patients recently underwent evaluation at a mean duration of 9 years after operation. Ten are asymptomatic and 6 have New York Heart Association class II symptoms. Nine patients continue to be employed. Eleven are in sinus rhythm, 3 have permanent pacemakers, and 2 have chronic atrial arrhythmias. Echocardiography showed atrioventricular valve insufficiency in 3 patients and reduced contractility in 4, but no new tumor recurrences. The long-term prognosis of this relatively large group of patients with cardiac myxomas has been good. Patients without the complex myxoma syndrome had no recurrence, whereas 2 patients did require reoperation for mitral valve replacement. Long-term disability and chronic arrhythmias have been infrequent, and functional status and employability of these patients have been very good.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City.
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Sellke
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lemmer
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Vandenberg
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ehrenhaft
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009232:Myxoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D012086:Reoperation; D013997:Time Factors