title: Left ventricular inflow obstruction associated with persistent left superior vena cava and dilated coronary sinus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has previously been suggested that significant dilatation of the coronary sinus can contribute to left ventricular inflow obstruction and is amenable to surgical correction. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with this rare condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since 1995, 6 patients have undergone coronary sinus reduction for concerns of obstruction with other concomitant intracardiac repairs. Preoperative echocardiography identified a significantly dilated left superior vena cava to the coronary sinus in 5 patients (83%) and an abnormal mitral valve in 4 patients (67%); these resulted in abnormal Doppler inflow patterns. Preoperative cardiac catheterization was performed in 5 patients and revealed increased atrial "a" waves, with a gradient to the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure in each case. At the time of surgery, coronary sinus angioplasty was performed in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no deaths, and there was no major morbidity. Follow-up imaging revealed no significant left ventricular inflow obstruction in any patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that dilatation of the coronary sinus can become hemodynamically significant and that coronary sinus angioplasty is a safe and effective technique.
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. djd@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Dibardino
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Heinle
authors.forename: E Dean
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014694:Ventricular Outflow Obstruction / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D017725:Ventricular Pressure / Q000502:physiology