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Updated: Oct 5, 2025
Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
Transcatheter balloon dilatation of cor triatriatum dexter with percutaneous atrial septal defect closure
Usman A Hasnie1, Shane P Prejean2, Asmaa N Ahmed3
1Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Insights
Cor triatriatum dexter, a rare congenital heart defect, was successfully treated with balloon dilation. This percutaneous intervention offers a novel management option for this condition, potentially avoiding surgery.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Interventional Cardiology
Background:
- Cor triatriatum dexter is an exceptionally rare congenital heart anomaly.
- It can present as a cause of adult hypoxia.
- Diagnosis is often incidental, as in this case, due to an iatrogenic atrial septal defect.
Observation:
- A case of cor triatriatum dexter was incidentally discovered.
- The discovery was made secondary to an iatrogenic atrial septal defect.
- The patient presented with symptoms of hypoxia.
Findings:
- The cor triatriatum dexter was successfully managed using balloon dilation.
- This represents a novel percutaneous technique for this rare condition.
- The defect resolved following the intervention.
Implications:
- Percutaneous intervention, such as balloon dilation, may be a viable alternative to surgery for managing cor triatriatum dexter.
- This approach offers a less invasive option for select patients.
- Further research into percutaneous techniques for rare congenital heart defects is warranted.
Abstract:
Cor triatriatum dexter is an extremely rare congenital heart defect and cause of hypoxia in adults. We describe a case of cor triatriatum dexter discovered incidentally due to an iatrogenic atrial septal defect. The cor triatriatum dexter resolved with balloon dilation - a novel technique to manage this rare clinical condition. <Learning objective: Management of cor triatriatum dexter, an exceptionally rare diagnosis, has often been thought to be surgical. However, percutaneous intervention may be considered in select clinical situations.>.
