Anesthetic Management of an Infant Presenting with an Intrapericardial Tumor: A Case Report

Abstract

Intrapericardial teratomas are rare primary cardiac tumors. These tumors, albeit benign in essence, can be fatal if they exert pressure on the cardiovascular and/or respiratory system. We describe a 34-day-old infant, who needed emergent surgery due to cardiovascular structure compromise. Proper anesthetic and surgical techniques conferred an uneventful postoperative course. Histologic examination confirmed the tumor as an intrapericardial teratoma. At 8 months' postoperative follow-up, the child had a good developmental status and a normal echocardiogram.

Keywords: Anesthesia; Heart neoplasms; Pericardial effusion; Teratoma.

Figure 1

Chest radiograph )anteroposterior view), revealing cardiomegaly and evidence of a pericardial mass. The arrows show the border of the possible mass.

Figure 2

Intraoperative image of the teratoma after opening the pericardium, showing that the mass is adherent to the AO.

Figure 3

Intraoperative view of the large intrapericardial teratoma, showing that it covers most of the RV.

Figure 4

Macroscopic appearance of the mass (multicystic lesion)