The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 32, 571-577, Copyright © 1981 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Surgical treatment of cor triatriatum
E Arciniegas, ZQ Farooki, M Hakimi, BL Perry and EW Green
Six patients with cor triatriatum underwent surgical correction. They
ranged for 1.5 to 93 months old (mean, 22 months). Congestive heart failure
was present in 3 patients. Cardiomegaly and increased pulmonary vascularity
were evident roentgenographically in all patients. Cardiac cineangiography
demonstrated the subdividing left atrial membrane in 5 patients and
suggested the correct diagnosis by revealing an abnormal configuration of
the left atrium in the other patient. The opening in the anomalous left
atrial membrane was stenotic in every instance. The proximal left atrial
chamber communicated with the right atrium through an atrial septal defect
in 5 patients and with the systemic venous circuit through a persistent
left superior vena cava in the other patient, in whom the atrial septum was
intact. A right atrial- transseptal approach provided ample exposure for
complete excision of the obstructing membrane and repair of the atrial
septum in all patients. One patient died of low cardiac output during the
early postoperative period. The other 5 are alive and well at an average of
48 months after operation.
