Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2026
Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Left atrial appendage occlusion in a mirror-image dextrocardia: A case report and review of literature
Bei Tian1, Chuang Ma2, Jin-Wen Su1
1Zhoupu Hospital Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China.
Insights
This case study details successful left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) in a patient with mirror-image dextrocardia. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) principles were applied, ensuring safety and improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Surgical Innovation
- Patient Recovery Protocols
Background:
- Dextrocardia presents unique anatomical challenges for cardiac procedures.
- Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure in dextrocardia is rarely reported.
- Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) application in LAA occlusion (LAAO) for dextrocardia is undocumented.
Observation:
- A 77-year-old male with atrial fibrillation underwent LAAO.
- Mirror-image dextrocardia necessitated careful perioperative planning.
- ERAS principles guided nursing care to optimize recovery.
Findings:
- The LAAO procedure was completed without complications.
- The patient experienced accelerated postoperative recovery.
- Music therapy contributed to improved anxiety symptoms.
Implications:
- This case demonstrates the feasibility and safety of LAAO in dextrocardia.
- Successful application of ERAS protocols can enhance recovery in complex cardiac cases.
- Further research into ERAS for LAAO in situs anomalies is warranted.
Background:
In mirror-image dextrocardia, the anterior-posterior position of the cardiac chambers and great vessels is maintained, but the left-right orientation of the abdominal organs is reversed. The abnormal anatomy of the heart poses surgical challenges and problems in dealing with surgical risk and monitoring complications. There are few reports on closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) in dextrocardia and no reports on the application of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) following LAA occlusion (LAAO) procedures.
Case Summary:
The objective for this case was to ensure perioperative safety and accelerate postoperative recovery from LAAO in a patient with mirror-image dextrocardia. ERAS was guided by the theory and practice of nursing care. Atrial fibrillation was diagnosed in a 77-year-old male patient, in whom LAAO was performed. The 2019 guidelines for perioperative care after cardiac surgery recommend that the clinical nursing procedures for patients with LAAO should be optimized to reduce the incidence of perioperative complications and ensure patient safety. Music therapy can be used throughout perioperative treatment and nursing to improve the anxiety symptoms of patients.
Conclusion:
The procedure was uneventful and proceeded without complications. Anxiety symptoms were improved.
