Acute inferior cardiac inflow obstruction resulting from inadvertent surgical closure of a prominent Eustachian valve mistaken for an atrial septal defect.
A 5-month-old boy with a VACTERL syndrome underwent cardiac surgery for correction of a common arterial trunk and closure of an atrial septal defect. A prominent Eustachian valve was mistaken for the atrial septum and surgically closed. Thirty months later, after gradual shrinking of the foramen ovale with associated reduction of the right-to-left shunt, the boy presented with acute symptoms of a lower inflow obstruction, characterized by hepatomegaly and engorged abdominal vein pattern (Medusa's head). The boy was reoperated successfully after the condition had been recognized.
Becker
A
A
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Childrens' University Hospital, Lindwurmstrasse 4, D-80337 Munich, Germany.
Buss
M
M
Sebening
W
W
Meisner
H
H
Döhlemann
C
C
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000601:surgery; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000601:surgery*; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D013577:Syndrome; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000601:surgery*