Chennai: A 50-year-old woman from Puducherry was treated for a lump inside the pericardium, the double-layered sac around the heart, at SRM Global Hospitals. The minimally invasive procedure ensures minimal blood loss, fewer complications and early discharge, the hospital said.
A team of doctors successfully performed a keyhole surgery to remove the mass, measuring around 8x8x5cm, inside the pericardial cavity. “Removing it was tougher than we assumed,” said senior consultant in cardiothoracic surgery, Dr Sujith Velayudhan Indira. “It was wrapped around major blood vessels and nestled between critical areas such as the right pulmonary artery and the roof of the left atrium, even extending to the tip of the heart,” Dr Sujith said.
Since it was trickly to remove the entire cyst, doctors opened it, drained its contents, and stitched its edges to nearby tissue to prevent recurrence. The minimally invasive procedure reduced the need for intensive procedures that usually involve stopping heart and lung functions. The patient was discharged on Wednesday, just a few days after the procedure, Dr Sujith said. The hospital said the condition is rare. Globally, only about ten cases of cyst inside the pericardium have been reported in published literature, he said.
A biopsy later confirmed that the cyst was a non-cancerous growth, said assistant consultant in cardiothoracic surgery, Dr B Nembian Raja Rajan.
The patient had persistent cough and difficulty breathing for several weeks. “A scan at a local hospital showed a large cyst in her chest, pressing against the left atrium of the heart. A detailed CT scan confirmed that the growth was dangerously close to major blood vessels, the left atrium and pulmonary veins,” he said.
