Modified biatrial approach for the extensive resection of left atrial myxomas.

Abstract

Surgical excision of left atrial myxomas is usually curative. When the root of the pedicle and the full thickness of the adjacent interatrial septum are excised, the repair of the created atrial septal defect requires a pericardial or Dacron patch. The biatrial approach generally has been accepted as the technique having the advantages of well identifying the site of attachment and inspection of the four cardiac chambers. We proposed a modification of this technique that allows the reconstruction of the created septal defect without any foreign patch.