Left atrial tumor embolization during pulmonary resection: review of literature and report of two cases.

In the past 10 years, 2 patients were seen with metastatic sarcoma to the lower lobe of the lung and extension into the left atrium. In both patients, an attempt to squeeze the intracardiac portion of the tumor into the lung at the time of lobectomy ended in near-catastrophic complications: In the first patient, a saddle embolus occluded both femoral arteries, and in the other, obstruction of the mitral valve orifice and cardiac arrest occurred. This approach is mentioned only to condemn it. Our recommended approach is outlined to prevent this technical mistake in the future.