ObjectiveCardiac myxoma in pregnancy is rare and the clinical characteristics of this
entity have been insufficiently elucidated. This article aims to describe the
treatment options and the risk factors responsible for the maternal and
feto-neonatal prognoses.MethodsA comprehensive search of the literature of cardiac myxoma in pregnancy was
conducted and 44 articles with 51 patients were included in the present
review.ResultsTransthoracic echocardiography was the most common diagnostic tool for the
diagnosis of cardiac myxoma during pregnancy. Cardiac myxoma resection was
performed in 95.9% (47/49); while no surgical resection was performed in 4.1%
(2/49) patients (P=0.000). More patients had an isolated cardiac
myxoma resection in comparison to those with a concurrent or staged additional
cardiac operation [87.2% (41/47) vs. 12.8% (6/47),
P=0.000]. A voluntary termination of the pregnancy was
done in 7 (13.7%) cases. In the remaining 31 (60.8%) pregnant patients, cesarean
section was the most common delivery mode representing 61.3% and vaginal delivery
was more common accounting for 19.4%. Cardiac surgery was performed in the first,
second and third trimester in 5 (13.9%), 14 (38.9%) and 17 (47.2%) patients,
respectively. No patients died. In the delivery group, 20 (76.9%) neonates were
event-free survivals, 4 (15.4%) were complicated and 2 (7.7%) died. Neonatal
prognoses did not differ between the delivery modes, treatment options, timing of
cardiac surgery and sequence of cardiac myxoma resection in relation to
delivery.ConclusionThe diagnosis of cardiac myxoma in pregnancy is important. Surgical treatment of
cardiac myxoma in the pregnant patients has brought about favorable maternal and
feto-neonatal outcomes in the delivery group, which might be attributable to the
shorter operation duration and non-emergency nature of the surgical intervention.
Proper timing of cardiac surgery and improved cardiopulmonary bypass conditions
may result in even better maternal and feto-neonatal survivals.