title: A giant left atrium in rheumatic mitral stenosis.
abstract: Enlargement of left atrium (LA) is not infrequently observed in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. We recently met a patient who had a giant LA associated with severe mitral stenosis. The right ventricle had almost collapsed due to compression by the LA. Mitral valve surgery was performed for mitral stenosis and the postoperative course was uneventful. Thus, we suggest that clinicians should not delay corrective surgery for severe mitral stenosis solely on account of a huge LA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyungil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyung-Kwan
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Bae
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Park