title: Spontaneous dissecting aneurysm of the left atrium complicated by cerebral embolism: A report of two cases with review of literature.
abstract: Left atrial dissection is a very uncommon complication of cardiac surgery and usually causes significant hemodynamic compromise. Little is known about spontaneous dissection of the left atrium. Two patients, one middle-aged man and another elderly woman were evaluated following stroke. Routine trans-thoracic echocardiogram showed vertical division of the left atrium with both chambers communicating with each other through an orifice. Detailed trans-oesophageal echocardiographic study revealed dissection of the left atrium producing an additional false chamber (pseudo-aneurysm) placed posterior to the left atrial appendage and above the postero-lateral aspect of mitral annulus. Spontaneous dissection of the left atrium is extremely rare, and there is no report of cerebral embolism associated with it. Review of literature reveals interesting facets of this rare entity.
authors.affiliation: The Fortis Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi 88, India. Electronic address: a51hauzkhas@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jagdish C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.affiliation: The Fortis Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi 88, India.
authors.forename: Madhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.affiliation: The Fortis Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi 88, India.
authors.forename: Vishwas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.affiliation: The Fortis Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi 88, India.
authors.forename: Arvind
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sethi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents
keywords: Dissecting aneurysm; Left atrial dissection; Mitral annulus; Pseudoaneurysm