Korean Circ J.  2010 Nov;40(11):609-610. 10.4070/kcj.2010.40.11.609.

A Giant Left Atrium in Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis

• Park K
• Kim HK
• Park YB

• KMID: 1826183
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2010.40.11.609

Abstract

Enlargement of left atrium (LA) is not infrequently observed in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. We recently met a patient who had a giant LA associated with severe mitral stenosis. The right ventricle had almost collapsed due to compression by the LA. Mitral valve surgery was performed for mitral stenosis and the postoperative course was uneventful. Thus, we suggest that clinicians should not delay corrective surgery for severe mitral stenosis solely on account of a huge LA.

Keyword

Magnetic resonance imaging; Mitral valve stenosis; Left atrium

MeSH Terms

Heart Atria
Heart Ventricles
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mitral Valve
Mitral Valve Stenosis

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Comparion of cardiac chambers before versus after corrective surgery. A: massive cardiomegaly on preoperative chest film. B: parasternal long axis view of transthoracic echocardiography. C: apical four chamber view of transthoracic echocardiography D: preoperative cMRI. E: postoperative cMRI. F: postoperative chest film. Ao: ascending aorta, LA: left atrium, LV: left ventricle, RA: right atrium, RV: right ventricle, cMRI: cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Reference

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2. Kim HJ, Shin DG, Hong GR, et al. Effect of left atrial decompression by percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy on the atrial electrophysiologic properties. Korean Circ J. 2007. 37:208–215.