title: [The different accesses to the left atrium].
abstract: The knowledge of the anatomy of the atria and interatrial septum permits different routes to approach the left atrioventricular valve. The Waterston's or Sondegaard's groove approach is the most frequently used, but other approaches such as Dubost'transseptal technique, vertical transseptal approach (Berreklouw-Guiraudon), biatrial inferior transseptal approach (Couëtil) or Saksena's approach may be relevant in special situations. It is the purpose of this article to review the anatomic and technical basis of these different approaches and their respective merits.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Cardio-Vasculaire et Thoraique, Hôpital Universitaire de Liège, CHU du Sart-Tilman, Liège.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Radermecker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Limet
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans