SRM Global Hospitals Achieves Landmark Success In Treating Rare Heart Cavity Lump
The rare case involved a 50-year-old woman from Puducherry who was experiencing persistent respiratory issues
SRM Global Hospitals in Chennai has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully treating India’s first documented case of a cyst inside the pericardium, the protective double-layered sac around the heart, using minimally invasive keyhole surgery. The rare case involved a 50-year-old woman from Puducherry who was experiencing persistent respiratory issues.
The patient was found to have a giant cyst, measuring approximately 8x8x5 cm, occupying the entire pericardial cavity and pressing against critical heart structures. The medical team, led by Dr. Sujith Velayudhan Indira, Senior Consultant in Cardiothoracic Surgery, opted for a minimally invasive approach to remove the cyst, avoiding the need for high-risk procedures that typically require stopping the heart and lung functions.
“Cysts within the pericardial cavity are extremely uncommon, with only about ten cases reported globally in medical literature,” noted Dr. P. Sathyanarayanan, President of SRM Group of Companies. “The success of this minimally invasive technique not only represents a significant medical achievement for SRM Global Hospitals but also sets a benchmark for treating rare conditions with less-invasive methods. This ensures better outcomes and faster recovery for patients.”
The procedure, known as a right-sided mini-thoracotomy, involved a small 6 cm incision. During the surgery, the team performed marsupialisation, carefully draining the cyst's contents and stitching its edges to surrounding tissue to prevent recurrence. The team successfully avoided using a heart-lung machine, which would have required temporarily halting heart and lung functions.
Dr. Sujith Velayudhan Indira shared details of the patient’s journey: “The cyst was larger and more complex than anticipated, filling the space around the heart and wrapping around major blood vessels, including the right pulmonary artery and the left atrium. Despite its intricate positioning, the minimally invasive approach allowed us to achieve a successful outcome without complications.”
A biopsy confirmed that the cyst was benign, likely a bronchogenic cyst, a non-cancerous growth that develops during early life. Thanks to the innovative procedure, the patient was discharged just four days post-surgery and has since made a smooth recovery.
