Breakthrough in Cardiac Surgery: SIMS Hospital Removes Rare Left Ventricular Tumour via Keyhole Method

In a landmark medical achievement, SIMS Hospitals successfully performed India’s first endoscopic keyhole removal of a left ventricular cardiac tumour, marking a breakthrough in minimally invasive heart surgery. The tumour, located in the heart’s main pumping chamber, was removed without the need for a sternotomy — an open-chest procedure traditionally used for such conditions. The patient, a 45-year-old woman, was found to have a 1.6 × 1.5 cm mass inside the left ventricle, which was confirmed after doctors performed a cardiac MRI. Primary cardiac tumours account for just 0.6 per cent of cardiac surgeries in India, and left ventricular tumours are even rarer, occurring in approximately one in 20–30 million people. The cardiac team from the Chennai-based

hospital opted for an endoscopic, minimally invasive approach, accessing the heart through small openings between the ribs. This technique eliminates the need to cut through the chest bone, significantly reducing pain, blood loss, hospital stay, and visible scarring. Doctors said the tumour was successfully excised under endoscopic vision, eliminating the risk of stroke and restoring normal heart function. “This success reflects the strength of our clinical ecosystem and endoscopic capabilities,” said Dr Ravi Pachamuthu, Chairman, SIMS Hospital. “The team has set a new benchmark in cardiac care,” he added. Doctors said such procedures are exceptionally rare even globally, making this a first-of-its-kind achievement in India. The patient was supported using a heart-lung machine introduced via the right groin, and the tumour was excised through a 3 cm incision in the right chest. She recovered smoothly and resumed normal activities within two weeks. Highlighting the benefits of the techniques, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim, Consultant – Cardiothoracic Surgery, said that minimally invasive cardiac surgery drastically reduces pain, recovery time, and scarring. The team has already performed five similar procedures with 100 per cent success, and continues to use keyhole approaches for coronary artery disease, valvular disorders, septal defects, and mediastinal tumours.

What is a cardiac tumour?

A cardiac tumor is a rare, abnormal growth in or around the heart, which can be benign or malignant, though most primary heart tumours are benign. These growths can form in heart chambers, valves, muscle, or the surrounding sac and can cause serious problems like blocked blood flow, arrhythmias, or embolisms, even if benign, by disrupting the heart's structure or rhythm. According to experts, cardiac tumours range in size and shape. While some are pedunculated, which means they grow on a stalk, heart tumours may also be smaller than a centimeter in diameter or as big as 15 centimeters. Their size and location within your heart impact your symptoms and need for treatment.

What are the different types of cardiac tumours?

There are many types of cardiac tumours. Doctors classify them based on how they develop. Heart tumours that begin in your heart, rather than spreading from another part of your body to your heart, are known as primary heart tumours. Primary heart tumours are usually noncancerous but are sometimes cancerous. When cancer elsewhere in your body spreads to your heart, those tumours are known as metastatic heart tumours. Metastatic heart tumours are always cancerous because they result from cancer that is already in your body.