Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Chirurgia, cilt.20, sa.5, ss.235-237, 2007 (Scopus)
Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital heart defect in which the left atrium is divided by a fibromuscular membrane into two distinct chambers. The size of the orifice between these chambers determines the clinical manifestation of cor triatriatum. A small communication is seen in patients who come to medical attention early in life and is associated with 75% mortality if not repaired. The initial clinical features on presentation can mimic those of severe mitral stenosis with pulmonair venous and arterial hypertention or congestive heart failure and low cardiac output. A 7 months-old baby was admitted to the hospital with cough, fever, failure to thrive, tachypnea and cardiomegaly. Echocardiography detected a membrane-like, echo-dense structure across the left atrium, suggesting a cor triatriatum sinister. Symptomatic relief was obtained with surgical excision of the left atrial dividing membrane. This case report describes the clinical signs and the surgical findings of a cor triatriatum sinister.