Treatment of atrial myxoma and thrombi is one of the most exciting uses for the da Vinci Surgical System. Though benign, cardiac tumors known as atrial myxoma in the upper left or right chamber of the heart, account for about 75 percent of all cardiac tumors. Blood clots known as thrombi may form outside the tumor, putting patients at risk for dangerous blockages if fragments of the myxoma and thrombi break off and enter the blood stream. Another concern: that the myxoma grow so large they impede blood flow to the heart.
Traditional surgical treatment of the atrial myxoma and thrombi required opening the chest to remove the tumor and any clots, resulting in extensive scarring and a long recovery time. But the minimally-invasive da Vinci robotic surgery allows our surgical team to treat atrial myxoma and thrombi with more precision, less pain and a faster recovery. Other benefits may include decreased risk of infection, decreased blood loss, reduced need for anesthesia, shorter hospital stays and a quicker return to your normal routine.
