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Published on: February 11, 2022
Left atrial dissection after a supra-annular mitral valve replacement for endocarditis
Valentin de Villiers de la Noue1, Guillaume Théry2, Laurent Faroux3
1Intensive Care Medicine, Reims University Hospital, Reims, France.
Insights
Left atrial dissection is a rare complication after redo cardiac surgery. Advanced imaging like echocardiography and CT scans are crucial for diagnosis and guiding treatment decisions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Left atrial dissection is a rare but potentially fatal complication following cardiac surgery.
- Early diagnosis and appropriate management are critical for patient outcomes.
Observation:
- A 66-year-old female developed left atrial dissection post-redo mitral and aortic valve replacement for degenerative disease and endocarditis.
- The mitral valve was implanted in a supra-annular position due to annular destruction.
- Postoperative refractory acute heart failure was attributed to the left atrial wall dissection.
Findings:
- Transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac CT scans confirmed the left atrial wall dissection.
- Surgical intervention was considered high-risk due to the patient's condition and prior surgeries.
- A multidisciplinary team decided on palliative care support due to the high surgical risk.
Implications:
- Left atrial dissection can occur even after redo cardiac procedures, particularly with supra-annular valve implantation.
- Multimodal imaging is essential for accurate diagnosis of this rare complication.
- Careful consideration of surgical risks versus palliative care is necessary in complex cases.
Background:
Left atrial dissection is a rare and a potentially fatal complication of cardiac surgery. Multi-modal imagery is helpful for the diagnosis and to guide the treatment.
Case Presentation:
We report the case of a 66-year-old female patient who underwent a combined mitral and aortic valve replacement for degenerative valvular disease. She presented an infectious endocarditis revealed by a third-degree atrioventricular bloc and had a redo mitral- and aortic valve replacement. Mitral valve was inserted in supra-annular position due to annular destruction. Post-operative course was marked by a refractory acute heart failure explained by a left atrial wall dissection confirmed by transoesophageal echocardiography and synchronized cardiac CT-scan. Surgical treatment was theoretically indicated but considering the high risk of a third surgery, a palliative care support was collegially decided.
Conclusions:
Left atrial dissection can occur after a redo surgery and supra-annular mitral valve implantation. Multi-modal imagery including transoesophageal echocardiography and cardiac CT-scan is helpful for the diagnosis.
Related Concept Videos
Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction
Mitral Stenosis III: Medical Management
Endocarditis III: Medical Management
Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction
Endocarditis I: Introduction
Mitral Valve Prolapse II: Assessment and Management

