Left Atrial Myxomectomy with Intraoperative Severe Mitral Regurgitation and Complicated Postoperative Course – Case Report

Primary cardiac tumors are a rare occurrence with myxomas accounting for about half of the benign tumors. Once diagnosed, surgical resection is the standard of care. Our case describes a female in her 50s who underwent a myxoma resection under cardiopulmonary bypass via biatrial approach. Intraoperatively, the thin septal crux between the wall of the aorta and mitral valve was damaged during resection, requiring stem cell tissue matrix for repair. The patient also developed severe mitral regurgitation suggesting infarct to the left coronary system during resection, subsequently receiving a mechanical mitral valve and a saphenous vein bypass graft. Postoperatively, she developed atrial fibrillation with a left atrial appendage thrombus, heart failure with an ejection fraction of 30%-35%, and a transient ischemic attack. In conclusion, it is important for the clinician to appreciate the possible complications of resection peri and postoperatively.