Mumbai, July 11, 2025: Doctors at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital gave a new lease of life to a 74-year-old man from Mumbai, who was diagnosed with a lemon sized tumour (5×5 cm) inside his heart along with severe artery blockage after a simple ECG investigation. Using advanced Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS), the surgical team successfully removed the tumour and restored blood flow to the blocked artery on the right side of the chest.
The 74-year-old was diagnosed with Left Atrial Myxoma—a rare, non-cancerous tumour located in the left upper chamber of the heart during a routine echocardiogram. His treating physician, Dr. Siddharth Sheth, Senior Cardiologist, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, confirmed that the tumour was occupying nearly 90% of the left atrium.
Further cardiac evaluation revealed an 85–90% blockage in the right coronary artery, a major vessel supplying blood to the heart. Coupled with a long-standing history of uncontrolled diabetes, the patient was at high risk for complications with conventional open-heart surgery, making this case complex.
Speaking upon the case, Dr. Sheth, Consultant, Cardiology, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, explained, “Left atrial myxomas are rare because primary heart tumors are extremely uncommon in the general population. The heart’s muscular structure and low cell activity make it an unlikely place for tumors to form. Given his age and pre-existing health condition like- uncontrolled diabetes, Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) was opted for instead of the conventional approach involving a 15–20 cm incision and sternotomy (cutting through the breastbone).”
Dr. Chandrashekhar Kulkarni, Director & Head – CVTS & Heart & Lung Transplant, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital said this was one of city’s first surgery where a heart tumour and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting was performed simultaneously with a minimal invasive approach. “MICS—a modern technique, helped us access the heart through a small 5–6 cm incision on the right side of the chest. This helped us avoid major bone cuts or rib separation, significantly reducing pain, blood loss, and risk of infection. In a single surgery, we removed the heart tumour by accessing both the left and right upper chambers of the heart. At the same time, we restored blood flow to the heart, bypassing the blocked artery using a healthy blood vessel from inside the chest.”
The minimally invasive approach led to a significantly faster recovery. Post-surgery, the patient was able to sit up and walk within a few days and was discharged on Day 6, following a smooth post-operative course.
This successful story not only highlights the role of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery and robotic-assisted surgery in transforming lives but also reinforces Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital’s role in offering advanced technology that transforms outcomes in high-risk cardiac cases.
Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)
