Can Primary Cardiac Myxofibrosarcoma Grow Quickly from Zero to a Size Leading to Left-Sided Heart Failure within 9 Months?

Malignant cardiac tumors are extremely rare, representing only 25% of all cardiac tumors, and angiosarcoma is the most common subtype. Myxofibrosarcomas are one of the rarest forms of cardiac malignant tumors. These tumors can silently grow and produce no or few symptoms until the tumor is large enough to obstruct blood flow.

Perfusion techniques for minimally invasive valve procedures.

In this paper, we present, in detail, the simplified perfusion technique that we have adopted since January 2009 and that we have utilized in 200 cases for cardiac minimally invasive valvular procedures that were performed through a right lateral mini-thoracotomy in the 3(rd)-4(th) intercostal space. Cardiopulmonary bypass was achieved by means of the direct cannulation of the ascending aorta and the insertion of a percutaneous venous cannula in the femoral vein. A flexible aortic cross-clamp was applied through the skin incision and cardioplegic arrest was obtained with the antegrade delivery of a crystalloid solution.