Congenital giant left atrial appendage aneurysm: a case report
Yan Chen1, Yun Mou1, Li-Jun Jiang2
1Echocardiography and Vascular Ultrasound Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Insights
Congenital left atrial appendage aneurysm (LAAA) is a rare condition. Surgical resection is often recommended, but clinical monitoring may be suitable for asymptomatic patients without complications.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Congenital left atrial appendage aneurysm (LAAA) is a rare cardiac anomaly.
- It can lead to serious complications like thromboembolism, atrial tachyarrhythmia, and cardiac dysfunction.
- Early surgical intervention is typically advised.
Observation:
- A case of a giant congenital LAAA in a female patient is presented.
- The patient successfully completed pregnancy and underwent a caesarean section without complications.
- Surgical resection was performed three years later due to chest pain from cardiac structure compression.
Findings:
- Surgical resection is recommended for most LAAA patients due to severe outcome risks.
- Clinical monitoring is a potential strategy for asymptomatic individuals without thrombus or other issues.
- Echocardiography and brain MRI are crucial for LAAA management.
Implications:
- This case highlights the management of congenital LAAA during pregnancy.
- It suggests that conservative management may be viable for select asymptomatic patients.
- Accurate diagnostic imaging is vital for informed clinical decisions regarding LAAA.
Background:
Congenital left atrial appendage aneurysm (LAAA) is a rare cardiac anomaly with potentially serious complications, including life-threatening systemic thromboembolism, atrial tachyarrhythmia, and cardiac dysfunction. Currently, early surgical intervention is generally recommended to prevent these complications.
Case Presentation:
We present a case of congenital giant LAAA in a female patient who successfully completed pregnancy and underwent caesarean section with no obvious complications. Surgical resection of the LAAA was performed 3 years later, at the onset of chest pain resulting from compression of adjacent cardiac structures by the LAAA.
Conclusion:
Surgical resection is recommended for the majority of patients with LAAA because of potential LAAA-related severe outcomes. However, clinical monitoring may be an optional strategy for asymptomatic patients without intra-atrial thrombus or other complications. Precise evaluation with echocardiography and brain magnetic resonance imaging is valuable for the subsequent management of LAAA.
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