Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the right atrium.

Cardiac inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare entity and is associated with distinct clinical, pathological and molecular features. The clinical behavior, natural history, biological potential, management and prognosis of such tumors are unclear. We present herewith an adolescent girl who presented with similar entity involving the junction of the right atrium and the inferior vena cava (IVC) in association with thrombocytosis and IVC thrombosis leading to obstruction of blood flow.

Retrograde autologous priming: is it useful in elective on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery?

Background: The effect of reduced cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) prime volume by retrograde autologous priming (RAP) was studied.

Methods: Twenty patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized to either standard prime (SP) volume (1,602 +/- 202 mL crystalloid prime, n = 10) or RAP (395 +/- 150 mL). RAP was performed by draining crystalloid prime from the arterial and venous lines into a recirculation bag before CPB.