Right atrial appendage myxoma following recent coronary artery bypass grafting.
A 71-year-old male presented with recurrent atrial fibrillation, anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Six months ago he underwent an urgent triple coronary artery bypass-grafting elsewhere. Postoperatively he complained of fatigue and low-grade fever. Echocardiographs and magnetic resonance imaging showed a right atrial appendage mass, which afterwards was resected. Histology confirmed a benign myxoma. Patient's symptoms spontaneously resolved. This report demonstrates the unusual sites that myxoma may occur, with probable serious complications in case of urgent heart operations. This case also emphasizes the need for preoperative echocardiography in open heart operations or in cases with recurrent atrial fibrillation.
Kollias
Vasilios D
VD
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Iaso General Clinic, Mesogeion 264 Ave, 155 62 Holargos, Athens, Greece. kolliasv@otenet.gr
Theodoropoulos
Stergios P
SP
Yacoub
Magdi H
MH