Comparison of inflow occlusion on the beating heart with cardiopulmonary bypass in the extraction of a mass lesion or a foreign body from the right heart

Objective: Two basic surgical techniques exist in the extraction of a mass lesion or a foreign body from the right atrium and/or the right ventricle. These are inflow occlusion of the right heart and with assistance of the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In this study, these two methods were compared. Methods: Between May 2001 and April 2010, 15 patients were operated upon for the extraction of a mass lesion or a foreign body from the right heart. Seven patients were operated upon using venous inflow occlusion technique, whereas eight patients were operated upon using CPB. These two groups were evaluated and compared in terms of clinical parameters. Results: Intracardiac masses or foreign bodies were completely removed by using both methods. Patients who were operated upon using inflow occlusion on beating heart (IOBH) developed no postoperative complication, whereas two patients who were operated upon with CPB developed complications, postoperatively. Moreover, duration of hospital stay, duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and intubation time were significantly lower in the IOBH group when compared with the CPB group. In the CPB group, the amount of blood transfused was significantly higher. Conclusions: In suitable patient groups, the IOBH technique could be safely performed by experienced centers. (C) 2010 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved