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Cor triatriatum associated with degenerative aortic insufficiency in an adult patient
P Voci1, O Spadaro, G Plaustro
1Istituto di Chirurgia del Cuore e dei Grossi Vasi, Università degli Studi La Sapienza, Roma.
Insights
Cor triatriatum is a rare heart condition where the left atrium is divided. This case highlights incidental diagnosis in an adult with aortic insufficiency, emphasizing surgical correction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital or acquired cardiac anomaly.
- It involves the division of the left atrium into two chambers due to abnormal pulmonary vein resorption.
- Diagnosis is typically at birth, but can be incidental in asymptomatic adults with wide interatrial communication.
Observation:
- A 32-year-old male presented with aortic insufficiency.
- Echocardiography unexpectedly revealed cor triatriatum.
- The patient had myxoid degeneration of the aortic valve spongiosa.
Findings:
- Surgical intervention included aortic valve replacement and resection of the atrial membrane.
- Histological examination confirmed myxoid degeneration of the aortic valve.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering rare cardiac anomalies like cor triatriatum in adult patients with seemingly unrelated cardiac conditions.
- Successful surgical management can significantly improve patient outcomes.
- Highlights the role of echocardiography in incidental diagnosis of congenital heart defects in adults.
Abstract:
Cor triatriatum is a rare cardiac anomaly which can be congenital or acquired in origin. Congenital cor triatriatum is due to an alteration of the common pulmonary vein resorption and therefore the left atrium is divided into two chambers, a proximal one, in communication with the pulmonary veins, and a distal one, in communication with the mitral valve orifice. The diagnosis is usually made at birth, but in rare cases, when the communication between the two chambers is wide and the patient is asymptomatic, the lesions may be diagnosed incidentally during a routine echocardiographic examination. We report a 32-year-old man, admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of aortic insufficiency, in whom echocardiography revealed the presence of cor triatriatum. The patient underwent aortic valve replacement and resection of the atrial membrane. Histology of the aortic valve revealed myxoid degeneration of the spongiosa.