title: Unusual opening of coronary sinus in atrioventricular septal defects.
abstract: The coronary sinus is an important landmark for the position of the atrial component of the atrioventricular conduction axis and, thus, assumes special relevance to the surgeon in the operating room. We describe here 2 patients with atrioventricular septal defect characterized by an unusual termination of the coronary sinus within the left atrium. We discuss the potential importance of this finding to the disposition and surgical avoidance of the conduction tissues.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mattos
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000601:surgery; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000473:pathology*; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male