title: Dissection of the atrial septum following mitral valve surgery.
abstract: Interlayer dissection of the atrial septum resulting in the formation of a cavity developed after an attempted repair of a mitral paraprosthetic leak. Subsequent rupture of the cavity into both atria resulted in a small left-to-right shunt and significant left ventriculoatrial regurgitation. Misplaced stitches, aimed at obliterating the paraprosthetic leak, were the cause of the dissection. This case illustrates a previously unreported complication of mitral valve surgery and stresses the importance of proper exposure and handling of the mitral annulus.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prêtre
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murith
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neidhart
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luthi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Faidutti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000293:injuries*; D006341:Heart Rupture / Q000209:etiology*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous