Atrial myxomas are benign tumors of the heart. They can grow in any heart chamber but they are more frequently found in the left atrium. Most myxomas are very friable and gelatinous and this is concerning because they can break up in fragments that travel through the body causing strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, blocked circulation in the legs (cold legs, black toes, etc.). If untreated for too long they continue to grow until they literally plug the heart circulation, with symptoms of heart failure, fainting, abnormal heart rhythms and occasionally sudden death.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with atrial myxoma, you'll be relieved to find out that there are very effective open heart surgical procedures to cure this disease. Most cardiac surgery centers can only offer a traditional approach to this problem by performing the operation through a foot-long split of the breast bone, known as a median sternotomy. This article will help you become familiar with a minimally invasive option to cure atrial myxomas in a much less challenging way for your recovery and well-being.
A minimally invasive myxoma surgery is carried out through a 2" incision placed in the skin fold under the right breast that allows access to the chest cavity by opening a space between the fourth and the fifth rib. There is no bone breaking involved and very minimal bleeding. This surgical field affords an excellent exposure and resection of the atrial myxoma. The tiny incision can then be numbed up with a long acting local anesthetic to insure a pain-free awakening in recovery room. It is very rare for this operation to require any blood transfusion.
If your doctors are not familiar with these techniques or they do not think it could be done with a minimally invasive approach, you can find abundant information online, including step-by-step narrated surgical videos and pictures. You should feel free and entitled to discuss your research with your doctor and ask him provide your clinical information for an expeditious review by an expert minimally invasive heart surgeon. Do your homework and be proactive. Most minimally invasive centers can provide additional information and support for your search. It is becoming increasingly common to see out-of-state patients travel to reputable minimally invasive and bloodless heart surgery centers to receive their cure and treatment for this heart tumor. Most patients can travel back home six to seven days after their surgery.
So many people spend countless hours shopping for a pair of shoes or a new car. Shopping for your own health certainly deserves all your attention.
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