Totally Thoracoscopic Treatment of Cardiac Myxoma: Experience from 29 Cases and Review of the Literature

Background: Cardiac myxoma, a rare benign tumor, can cause significant patient morbidity if left untreated. Traditionally, treatment has involved open sternotomy; however, recent advancements now enable minimally invasive resection using totally thoracoscopic techniques. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 29 cases of totally thoracoscopic resections of cardiac myxomas performed at our department between January 2019 and October 2022. Perioperative data were analyzed, and the surgical outcomes of a single surgeon's clinical experience were evaluated. Results: The study included 20 men and nine women, with a mean age of 49 ± 10.38 years. All surgeries were uneventful, with an average tumor size of 34.46 mm × 25.07 mm. The mean operation time was 230.17 ± 59.67 min, and the average cardiopulmonary bypass time was 93.14 ± 28.15 min. No intraoperative complications or postoperative deaths were reported. Follow-up transthoracic echocardiography at 12 months showed no residual intracardiac tumors or other abnormalities. Conclusion: Totally thoracoscopic resection of cardiac myxomas was demonstrated to be a safe and effective procedure, offering rapid recovery and a low complication rate, aligning with modern trends in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.