Abstract
BACKGROUND: Intracardiac blood cysts are very rare primary cardiac tumors. Blood cysts originated from the mitral valve represent a minority of cases, and previous cases have been mainly treated with conventional surgery through median sternotomy. When the tumor involves heart valves and histopathological diagnosis remains unknown preoperatively, minimally invasive surgical resection of an intracardiac tumor can be challenging, especially through an endoscopic approach. We herein present the first case of successful surgical resection for a rare mitral valve originated blood cyst in a minimally invasive, totally thoracoscopic approach. CASE PRESENTATION: An apparently healthy 38-year-old male presented to his local hospital with six months history of palpitation and exertional dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a mobile round cystic mass inside the left ventricle, attached to the anterolateral papillary muscle and chordae tendineae of the mitral valve. The local doctor diagnosed an intracardiac tumor and suggested a surgical resection through median sternotomy. However, the patient refused to have a sternotomy. He was then referred to us seeking minimally invasive surgery. We assessed the location, appearance and relationship to nearby structures of the tumor with echocardiography, and made a diagnosis of a suspected primary cystic intracardiac tumor. Since we had enough experience of totally endoscopic mitral surgery, our surgical plan was to resect the tumor in the aid of thoracoscopy, and manage the possible deformation and dysfunction of the cardiac structure if necessary. Using femoro-femoral cannulation and cardiopulmonary bypass, we successfully resected the tumor through a thoracoscopic approach in a closed chest, and well preserved the subvalvular structure and valvular function. Postoperative recovery was quick and uneventful. Pathologic diagnosis confirmed a simple blood cyst. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection is warranted for symptomatic cases of intracardiac blood cysts. With prudent preoperative diagnosis and comprehensive surgical plan, we believe the thoracoscopic approach is a safe, curative and viable alternative for complete resection of cardiac valvular tumors.