[Atrial myxoma: clinical features and results of surgical treatment in 24 cases (author's transl)].

Retrospective analysis was undertaken of 24 patients with atrial myxomas surgically treated. There were 19 males and 5 females, ranging in age from 10 to 69 years (mean 44.6 years). 22 myxomata were located in the left atrium and 2 in the right atrium. Clinical manifestations and cardiac catheterization findings are described. All tumors were resected with the aid of extracorporeal circulation. The operation consisted of removal of the tumor, with a generous excision of septal attachment in 17 cases; patch reconstruction of the atrial septum was required in most patients. One patient had a concomitant correction of atrial septum defect, another required mitral annuloplasty, and third had a concomitant aorto-coronary bypass. There were 3 hospital deaths (operative mortality 12.5%) and 2 patients (one died) had intraoperative tumor emboli. In a follow-up extending to 11 years (mean 38 months), there were not late deaths and functional results were generally excellent (15 surviving patients are in N.Y.H.A. class I). No patient had evidence of recurrence of the tumor.