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Updated: May 13, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Inverted left atrial appendage bonded to atrial septum
Cláudia Maria Caldas Moura1, Patrícia Isabel Costa Morais Caldas, António Manuel Rodrigues-Sousa
1Pediatric Cardiology Department, S. João Hospital, Oporto, Portugal. claudiammoura@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Inverted left atrial appendage (LAA) is a rare surgical complication. Our patient, a boy aged 2 years, was diagnosed with a partial atrioventricular defect with mild regurgitation of the left atrioventricular valve and a large primum atrial septal defect. Direct postoperative transesophageal echocardiography revealed a new left atrial mass attached to the atrial septum, without left ventricle inflow obstruction. Out of concern about the nature of this mass, we chose surgical direct examination. Intraoperatively, we diagnosed it as an inverted LAA accidentally attached to the atrial septum suture line. Awareness of this condition can avoid unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
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