Resection of Myxoma in the Acute Phase of Hemorrhagic Cerebral Infarction

Abstract

Early surgical resection for cardiac myxoma is necessary because it may frequently cause cerebral infarction. However the optimal surgical timing for the disease is controversial because the acute phase of infarction may induce intracranial hemorrhage. An 82-year-old woman referred to our hospital because of unconsciousness and right hemiparesis. MRI showed infarction in the left middle cerebral artery area and UCG revealed a left atrial mass. The fourth day after the onset, brain CT showed hemorrhagic infarction and MRI showed new infarction. There was no enlargement of the hemorrhagic focus on brain CT and the patient underwent surgery on the fifth day after the onset. The postoperative course was uneventful. Despite the existence of hemorrhagic infarction, open heart surgery may save patients with cerebrovascular event.