Anna Kośmider

Sarcomas of the heart as a difficult interdisciplinary problem.

Cardiac tumors are assumed to be a rare entity. Metastases to the heart are more frequent than primary lesions. Sarcomas make up the majority of cardiac malignant neoplasms. Among them angiosarcoma is the most common and associated with the worst prognosis. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma comprises the minority of cardiac sarcomas and has uncertain etiology as well as pathogenesis. Transthoracic echocardiography remains the widely available screening examination for the initial diagnosis of a cardiac tumor. The clinical presentation is non-specific and the diagnosis is established usually at an advanced stage of the disease. Sarcomas spread preferentially through blood due to their immature vessels without endothelial lining. Surgery remains the method of choice for treatment. Radicalness of the excision is still the most valuable prognostic factor. Adjuvant therapy is unlikely to be effective. The management of cardiac sarcomas must be individualized due to their rarity and significant differences in the course of disease.

23-year experience on diagnosis and surgical treatment of benign and malignant cardiac tumors.

Introduction Although myxoma is the most frequent cardiac tumor, other conditions should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), followed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) remain the principal methods for cardiac tumor screening and visualizing. The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostics, surgical treatment and prognosis of malignant and benign cardiac tumors. Material and methods From 1986 to 2009 there were 121 patients with cardiac tumors operated on in the Cardiac Surgery Clinic of the Medical University in Lodz. Patients were referred to surgery mainly on the basis of the TTE and TEE image. In 4 cases valvular prosthesis implantation or valve repair were carried out. Patients remained under long-term observation in the Cardiac Surgery Outpatient Clinic. Results Myxoma was diagnosed in 114 cases. Malignancies were discovered in 7 cases. The left atrium was the most frequent localization. The echocardiographic image differed significantly in benign and malignant tumors. The postoperative period was complicated by embolic events or myocardial infarctions. Only malignant tumors were associated with mortality due to cardiovascular events. The survival for malignant tumors was significantly shorter. Conclusions Short and long-term results of operative treatment are very good for benign tumors in contrast to cardiac malignancies. The TTE and TEE image can be very significant in the final diagnosis.

Artificial aortic valve dysfunction due to pannus and thrombus – different methods of cardiac surgical management

Introduction Approximately 60 000 prosthetic valves are implanted annually in the USA. The risk of prosthesis dysfunction ranges from 0.1% to 4% per year. Prosthesis valve dysfunction is usually caused by a thrombus obstructing the prosthetic discs. However, 10% of prosthetic valves are dysfunctional due to pannus formation, and 12% of prostheses are damaged by both fibrinous and thrombotic components. The authors present two patients with dysfunctional aortic prostheses who were referred for cardiac surgery. Different surgical solutions were used in the treatment of each case. Case study 1 The first patient was a 71-year-old woman whose medical history included arterial hypertension, stable coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and hypercholesterolemia; she had previously undergone left-sided mastectomy and radiotherapy. The patient was admitted to the Cardiac Surgery Department due to aortic prosthesis dysfunction. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed complete obstruction of one disc and a severe reduction in the mobility of the second. The mean transvalvular gradient was very high. During the operation, pannus covering the discs’ surface was found. A biological aortic prosthesis was reimplanted without complications. Case study 2 The second patient was an 87-year-old woman with arterial hypertension, persistent atrial fibrillation, and COPD, whose past medical history included gastric ulcer disease and ischemic stroke. As in the case of the first patient, she was admitted due to valvular prosthesis dysfunction. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography revealed an obstruction of the posterior prosthetic disc and significant aortic regurgitation. Transesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopy confirmed the prosthetic dysfunction. During the operation, a thrombus growing around a minor pannus was found. The thrombus and pannus were removed, and normal functionality of the prosthetic valve was restored. Conclusions Precise and modern diagnostic methods facilitated selection of the treatment method. However, the intraoperative view also seems to be crucial in individualizing the surgical approach.

Fatal outcome of early postoperative myocardial infarction after implantation of aortic valve bioprosthesis and left internal thoracic artery anastomosis to left anterior descending coronary artery caused by closure of unchanged circumflex coronary artery

Acute perioperative myocardial infarction caused by coronary artery embolization after aortic valve implantation is a rare and often fatal postoperative complication. We present a case report of a 67-year-old patient operated on for aortic valve replacement (AVR) and myocardial revascularization (LITA-LAD anastomosis). Myocardial ischemia caused by occlusion of the previously intact circumflex coronary artery occurred in the early postoperative period. Despite a successful balloon angioplasty of the closed artery in the fifth hour after the procedure, the status of the patient did not improve significantly. A decrease in progressive arterial pressure, multiple organ failure, a significant rise of myocardial necrosis markers and the lack of external pacing led to death on the second day after the operation. Acute myocardial infarction after aortic valve replacement caused by occlusion of coronary vessels by calcium debris or thrombosis is a rare postoperative complication, which may be fatal even if the patency of the vessel is promptly restored.

Removal of the left atrium and left ventricle tumour: a

The heart is the rarest site for neoplasms to be localized. Despite modern diagnostic techniques, cardiac tumours continue to among those discovered latest and with the worst prognoses. We present the case of a 62-year-old woman with a heart tumour and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, who was admitted to the Department of Cardiac Surgery. The patient underwent surgical removal of the tumour with extracorporeal circulation. The left atrium, mitral valve and the left ventricle were occupied by the infiltration. A radical resection appeared to be impossible. A valvular prosthesis was not implanted. The perioperative period was uncomplicated. On the 9th day a local recurrence was confirmed in the transthoracic echocardiography. Further oncological diagnostics revealed the spread of the malignant neoplasm to bones of the pelvis and spine. Chemotherapy was initiated. The authors discuss the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment procedures employed in the above case.

Removal of the left atrium and left ventricle tumour: a case report.

The heart is the rarest site for neoplasms to be localized. Despite modern diagnostic techniques, cardiac tumours continue to among those discovered latest and with the worst prognoses. We present the case of a 62-year-old woman with a heart tumour and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, who was admitted to the Department of Cardiac Surgery. The patient underwent surgical removal of the tumour with extracorporeal circulation. The left atrium, mitral valve and the left ventricle were occupied by the infiltration. A radical resection appeared to be impossible. A valvular prosthesis was not implanted. The perioperative period was uncomplicated. On the 9th day a local recurrence was confirmed in the transthoracic echocardiography. Further oncological diagnostics revealed the spread of the malignant neoplasm to bones of the pelvis and spine. Chemotherapy was initiated. The authors discuss the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment procedures employed in the above case.