Resection of a large primary left ventricle tumour by cardiac autotransplantation in a 2-month-old infant: a case report

BACKGROUND: Surgery is the fundamental method for the treatment of primary cardiac tumours. However, due to the inaccessibility of anatomy and the proximity of important structures, it is very difficult to completely resect tumours of the left atrium or left ventricle without damaging the normal tissues. Cardiac autotransplantation for the resection of cardiac tumours is carried out by taking out the heart from the body, resecting cardiac tumours, and then transplanting the heart back into the body. CASE SUMMARY: This article presents a successful case of cardiac autotransplantation for the complete resection of primary cardiac tumour in a 2-month-old infant and shares the noteworthy experience. DISCUSSION: Tumours located in the left atrium and left ventricle are difficult to be exposed because of their deep posterior location and proximity to important anatomical structures such as mitral valve and chordae tendineae. How to resect the tumours completely without damaging the normal tissues is a great challenge. This case proves that cardiac autotransplantation is a good solution for tumours that are difficult to be resected completely by orthotopic cardiac transplantation.