title: A novel technique for giant left atrium reduction.
abstract: We herein describe a safe and reproducible technique for left atrial volume reduction in patients with a giant left atrium. In a 56-year-old patient undergoing redo mitral valve replacement, the left atrium measured 18 x 20 x 17 cm occupying the middle-lower segment of the right hemithorax with compression of the adjacent organs. The left atrial volume was reduced by triangular resections of the atrial wall and the mitral valve was replaced using a mechanical prosthesis. The postoperative course was uneventful and the left atrial diameter was 11.2 cm at the latest control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. riccardosinatra@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinatra
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pulitani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonazzo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melina
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000601:surgery*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve