17441 Robotically Assisted Removal Of Cardiac Tumors

Overview

A cardiac tumor is a growth that forms in or around the heart. Most heart tumors are benign, meaning they are not cancer, and the most common type is called a myxoma. Robotically assisted removal is a way of taking out a heart tumor using keyhole surgery. Instead of opening the whole breastbone, the surgeon makes a few small cuts in the chest and guides very thin, precise robotic arms from a console nearby. The surgeon controls every movement — the robot is a tool, not a thinking machine. This approach can mean less pain, smaller scars and a faster return to normal life for the right patients.

Heart tumors are rare. Benign heart tumors are much more common than cancerous ones, and tumors that start in the heart itself are far less common than tumors that have spread there from elsewhere in the body.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Often no symptoms at all — some tumors are found by chance during a scan for something else
• Shortness of breath, especially with activity or when lying flat
• Palpitations (a fluttering, pounding or racing heartbeat)
• Feeling dizzy or light-headed
• Fainting or near-fainting
• Tiredness and low energy
• Chest discomfort
• Flu-like feelings such as fever, weight loss or aching, which some benign tumors can cause

Symptoms in children

• Poor feeding or slow weight gain in babies
• Getting out of breath more easily than other children during play
• Unusual tiredness or irritability
• Fainting or a blue tinge to the lips in serious cases — seek emergency help immediately

Symptoms in older adults

• Breathlessness that may be mistaken for getting older or for a lung problem
• Palpitations or an irregular heartbeat
• Dizziness on standing or with exertion
• Symptoms of a small stroke or clot, such as sudden weakness or slurred speech — call emergency services

Causes

Main causes

• Most heart tumors grow without a clear cause — nothing you or your family did caused it
• Benign myxomas are thought to start from cells in the lining of the heart
• Some tumors are cancerous and either start in the heart or spread there from another part of the body
• A small number of heart tumors are linked to rare inherited conditions that run in families

Risk factors

• A rare inherited condition called Carney complex, which can cause heart tumors and other growths
• Other rare genetic syndromes that raise the risk of tumors
• Having cancer elsewhere in the body, which can occasionally spread to the heart
• Age and sex — myxomas are more common in middle-aged adults and in women

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• You faint or nearly faint
• You have new palpitations or a heartbeat that feels wrong
• You become more breathless than usual, especially at rest
• You have a fever with weight loss and feel generally unwell
• You develop sudden swelling in the legs or ankles

Book a routine appointment if:

• You feel unusually tired or breathless with everyday activity
• You have a heart murmur your doctor has noticed
• You have a family member with a known heart tumor or an inherited condition linked to heart tumors
• You are being checked after cancer treatment and have new heart-related symptoms

Diagnosis

Doctors usually start with your story and a physical examination, including listening to your heart. An ultrasound scan of the heart is the key test and can show most tumors clearly. Blood tests and heart tracing (ECG) give extra information. If a tumor is found, more detailed scans help the heart team plan whether surgery is needed and whether a robotic approach is possible.

Tests that may be done

• Echocardiogram — an ultrasound scan that shows the heart's chambers, valves and any growths inside
• Transoesophageal echocardiogram — a closer look using a thin probe passed gently down the food pipe while you are sedated
• ECG (electrocardiogram) — a tracing of the heart's electrical rhythm
• Cardiac MRI or CT scan — detailed pictures that show the tumor's size, position and whether it involves nearby structures
• Blood tests — to check general health, anaemia and inflammation markers
• Coronary angiogram or CT coronary scan — sometimes used to check the heart's blood vessels before surgery
• Laboratory testing of the tumor after removal — to confirm exactly what type it was

What to expect at your appointment

You will usually be looked after by a heart team: a cardiologist, a cardiac surgeon, imaging specialists, an anaesthetist and specialist nurses. They will explain what each test involves, how long it takes and when you will get results. Waiting for results can feel anxious — it often helps to bring someone with you to appointments and to write down your questions beforehand.

Treatment

The main treatment for most heart tumors that are causing problems is surgery to remove them. The heart team will consider the tumor's type, size and position, your symptoms, your age and your other health conditions. Robotically assisted removal is one surgical option among several, and the team will recommend the approach they believe is safest and most effective for you.

Self-care at home

• Take any medicines exactly as your care team prescribes, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure about anything
• Keep active gently as you recover, building up slowly along the plan your team gives you
• Attend all follow-up appointments and scans, even when you feel well
• Keep your wounds clean and dry, and follow the dressing advice you are given
• Tell your team about any new breathlessness, palpitations, fever or wound problems straight away

Medical treatments

Not every heart tumor needs immediate surgery. Small tumors that cause no symptoms may sometimes be watched with regular scans. For tumors that are cancerous, or that have spread to the heart from elsewhere, treatment may include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy or other specialist cancer treatments, chosen by your cancer team. Medicines may also be used to control symptoms such as an irregular heartbeat or fluid build-up. Your doctors will discuss the benefits and risks of any treatment with you, and no medicine should be started or stopped without their advice.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is usually recommended when a tumor is causing symptoms, blocking blood flow inside the heart, affecting the valves, or carries a risk of breaking off and travelling to the brain or other organs. It may also be advised when the tumor could be cancerous or is growing. Robotically assisted surgery is generally considered for suitable tumors in people well enough for heart surgery, and the final decision is made together with your heart team. Some people need a standard open-heart operation instead, depending on where the tumor sits and what else needs repairing.

Living with this condition

Most people recover well after heart surgery. Expect to feel tired for a few weeks, with a gradual return to normal activities over one to three months. Robotically assisted surgery often means less discomfort and a quicker return to everyday life, but it is still real heart surgery — give yourself time. Plan for help at home in the first couple of weeks, and ask your team when you can return to work, drive and lift heavy things.

Lifestyle tips

• Build activity back gradually rather than all at once
• Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise until your team says it is safe
• Stop smoking if you smoke, and ask for support to help you
• Keep alcohol within recommended limits
• Attend every follow-up scan — this is how the team checks the tumor has not come back

Diet and exercise

There is no special diet that treats heart tumors, but eating a varied, balanced diet supports healing and heart health. Aim for plenty of vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, beans and lean protein, and go easy on very salty and highly processed foods. Gentle walking is a good way to start moving again after surgery. Your team or a cardiac rehabilitation service can give you a safe exercise plan to build up strength over the following weeks and months.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Being told you have a heart tumor, and facing heart surgery, can bring shock, fear and worry. This is completely normal. Some people feel anxious before the operation and low for a while afterwards. Talking about how you feel — with family, your GP, a specialist nurse or a counsellor — really does help. If you ever feel you cannot cope or have thoughts of harming yourself, contact your local emergency number or a crisis support service straight away, and tell someone you trust.

Prevention

There is no reliable way to prevent a heart tumor, and nothing you did caused it. Because these tumors are rare, routine screening of the general population is not useful. If you have a rare inherited condition linked to heart tumors, or a close relative has had one, your doctor may suggest regular heart scans for you and possibly other family members.

Screening programmes

For most people, no screening is needed. If a genetic condition that runs in families has been identified, your specialist team may recommend a heart ultrasound at set intervals and referral for genetic counselling.

Complications

If left untreated

• Part of the tumor can break off and travel in the bloodstream, causing a stroke or blocking blood flow to an organ
• The tumor can block blood flow inside the heart, causing breathlessness, dizziness or fainting
• It can damage or block a heart valve
• It can trigger an irregular heartbeat or, rarely, heart failure
• A cancerous tumor can grow and spread if it is not treated
• Even a benign tumor can grow back in a small number of people, which is why follow-up scans matter

Long-term outlook

The outlook is generally good. Most heart tumors are benign and can be removed completely with surgery, and many people return to a full, normal life afterwards. Robotically assisted surgery is performed by experienced specialist teams and, for the right patients, can mean a smoother recovery. Cancerous heart tumors are less common and need more complex treatment, but doctors have several ways to help control them. Your own team can tell you what to expect in your situation.

Find support

External links open third-party websites. Ruqelo Health is not responsible for external content. Listing an organisation does not imply endorsement.