title: Right atrial tunnel to the left atrial appendage: a danger during balloon septostomy.
abstract: Right atrial tunnel to the left atrial appendage is a very rare anomaly not previously described. Per se, it has no physiological significance but is a source of potential disaster during balloon atrial septostomy. The precise anatomy is demonstrated and ways are proposed to avoid tearing the atrial wall during therapeutic cardiac catheterization.
authors.affiliation: University of New Mexico School of Medicine and the Office of the Medical Investigator, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA. dwaldman@salud.umn.edu
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Waldman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McFeeley
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bornikova
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002879:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D006343:Heart Septal Defects / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D018785:Tricuspid Atresia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology