title: Cor triatriatum sinistrum: presentation of syncope and atrial tachycardia.
abstract: We present a rather unusual cause for syncope associated with atrial tachycardia. A man aged 39 years presented with an episode of syncope and narrow complex tachycardia. Further investigations, including transoesophageal echocardiography, identified cor triatriatum sinistrum (CTS), a rare congenital abnormality characterised by the atrium being divided by a fibrous membrane. Although it is rare, there has been an increase in diagnosis due to developments in diagnostic imaging techniques. Symptoms are related to the size of fenestrations within the fibrous membrane. Presenting symptoms can mimic those seen in mitral stenosis. It is a condition that can occur in isolation, but it can also be associated with other cardiac abnormalities such as an atrial septal defect (ASD) (as in this case). Surgery is the definitive treatment (this man had surgical repair of CTS and closure of ASD) and should be considered at any age if there are any associated symptoms or complications.
authors.affiliation: James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Great Yarmouth, UK.
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4109-0810
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avari
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Great Yarmouth, UK.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Great Yarmouth, UK.
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kozlowska
authors.affiliation: Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Samer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nashef
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003310:Cor Triatriatum / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology*; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology*