Left Atrial Dissection After Mitral and Aortic Valve Replacement: The Importance of Early Diagnosis of a Rare Entity

Despoina Sarridou1, Sophia Anastasia Mouratoglou2, Rafail Ioannidis3

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, AHEPA University Hospital of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.

Reports (MDPI)
|October 24, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Left atrial dissection, a rare surgical complication, can be managed conservatively. Prompt diagnosis via perioperative echocardiography is crucial for effective, non-surgical intervention in patients with hemodynamic instability.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Cardiac Anesthesia
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Left atrial dissection is a rare but serious surgical complication, occurring in approximately 0.16% of cardiac surgeries.
  • It involves the formation of a cavity between the endocardial and epicardial layers of the left atrium.
  • Often a consequence of procedures involving the mitral valve, such as valve replacement.

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