OBJECTIVES: The growing number of reports of surgery for papillary fibroelastomas of the heart led us to evaluate the diagnostic potential of ultrasonography in patients with cerebral or coronary signs and to assess the efficacy of anticoagulant therapy in preventing recurrent cerebral ischemia and disease progression after resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten cases of echographically diagnosed fibroelastoma of the heart treated by surgery were analyzed together with cases reported in the literature. RESULTS: Transesophageal echography has been shown to be the superior method. Surgical resection has given good results and the postoperative course is always excellent. Recurrent embolism occurred in two of our cases despite well-conducted anticoagulation. DISCUSSION: Surgical resection should be performed as early as possible because anticoagulation does not appear to sufficiently protect against embolic events, particularly cerebral events.
OBJECTIVES: The growing number of reports of surgery for papillary fibroelastomas of the heart led us to evaluate the diagnostic potential of ultrasonography in patients with cerebral or coronary signs and to assess the efficacy of anticoagulant therapy in preventing recurrent cerebral ischemia and disease progression after resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten cases of echographically diagnosed fibroelastoma of the heart treated by surgery were analyzed together with cases reported in the literature. RESULTS: Transesophageal echography has been shown to be the superior method. Surgical resection has given good results and the postoperative course is always excellent. Recurrent embolism occurred in two of our cases despite well-conducted anticoagulation. DISCUSSION: Surgical resection should be performed as early as possible because anticoagulation does not appear to sufficiently protect against embolic events, particularly cerebral events.