Objectives To investigate means and effect on surgical treatment of atrial myxoma under superficial hypothermia and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) without heart beating cease.

Methods Clinical datas and surgical treatment of 64 patients with primary atrial myxoma from January 2003 to March 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. All of atrial myxoma excised under general anesthaesia with superficial low temperature extracorporal circulation on beating heart.

Results The CPB time was 19–84 min (mean 44.6±15.2 min). All of 53 cases of left atrial myxoma and 7 cases of right atrial myxoma and four cases of double atrial myxoma were respected successfully and without cerebral embolism or gas embolism etc postoperative complications occurred, and without death in period of operation, they were all myxoma recovered. The patients were followed up for 1 month–9 years with a follow-up rate of 85.9%. All of cases didn't relapsed after operation nine patients were lost to follow-up.

Conclusions Atrial myxoma should be early performed after diagnosis results suggested that intracardiac procedures on pump beating-heart with superficial hypothermia cardiopulmonary bypass is safe and available in patients with atrial myxoma.