title: [Pitfalls in left atrial reduction. Superior neo-cava with pericardium].
abstract: Left atrial reduction is a surgical technique that has been proposed for eliminating chronic atrial fibrillation associated with mitral valve disease. A potential complication of the technique is the unnoticed rotation of the heart while the left atrium is anastomosed. Such an event makes it impossible to reconstruct the superior vena cava, leading to superior vena cava syndrome due to the rotation of that vessel. We report our experience with a case of left atrial reduction and rotation of the superior vena cava while it was being anastomosed. The complication was successfully resolved by placing an autologous pericardial tube between the two ends of the superior vena cava.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía Cardiotorácica, Hospital Regional N.o 34. IMSS, Monterrey. Nuevo León, México. ovidio@voila.fr
authors.forename: Ovidio A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: García-Villarreal
authors.forename: Amadeu B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Gouveia
authors.forename: Edgardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: López-Mata
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bermúdez
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Argüero
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization; D010496:Pericardium / Q000601:surgery*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000601:surgery*