PURPOSE: Simultaneous coronary artery bypass grafting with a resection of left atrial myxoma has been rarely reported. The ages and the symptoms of patients who have left atrial myxomas and coronary artery disease are similar. In this report, we present our cases of left atrial myxoma with concomitant coronary artery disease who were all treated surgically. METHODS: Between September 1998 and January 2001, 11 patients were surgically treated after being diagnosed to have left atrial myxoma. Routine coronary angiography was performed on all patients preoperatively. In four patients concomitant coronary artery disease was identified. At surgery we performed coronary artery bypass grafting after a resection of left atrial myxoma in three patients. RESULTS: All patients were weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass without any difficulty. The postoperative course was uneventful. The follow-up period was 17 +/- 10 months (range 3-32 months). All patients were symptom-free and no recurrence of myxoma was detected. CONCLUSION: Based on our experience, cardiovascular surgeons should be aware of the concomitance of these diseases. It is therefore recommended that coronary angiography should be performed on all patients who present with left atrial myxomas.
PURPOSE: Simultaneous coronary artery bypass grafting with a resection of left atrial myxoma has been rarely reported. The ages and the symptoms of patients who have left atrial myxomas and coronary artery disease are similar. In this report, we present our cases of left atrial myxoma with concomitant coronary artery disease who were all treated surgically. METHODS: Between September 1998 and January 2001, 11 patients were surgically treated after being diagnosed to have left atrial myxoma. Routine coronary angiography was performed on all patients preoperatively. In four patients concomitant coronary artery disease was identified. At surgery we performed coronary artery bypass grafting after a resection of left atrial myxoma in three patients. RESULTS: All patients were weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass without any difficulty. The postoperative course was uneventful. The follow-up period was 17 +/- 10 months (range 3-32 months). All patients were symptom-free and no recurrence of myxoma was detected. CONCLUSION: Based on our experience, cardiovascular surgeons should be aware of the concomitance of these diseases. It is therefore recommended that coronary angiography should be performed on all patients who present with left atrial myxomas.