title: Inverted left atrial appendage.
abstract: An unexpected left atrial mass was found during postoperative echocardiography in a 17-years old man following aortic valve replacement, suggesting thrombus, vegetation and neoplasm. Reoperation showed that the mass to be an inverted left atrial appendage. Left ventricular venting may cause such inversion. To prevent this complication, we suggest the use of careful monitoring and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kochi Municipal Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanemitsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wariishi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kitamura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging