Three-Dimensional Transthoracic Echocardiography to Evaluate Cor Triatriatum in the Adult

Surgical management of divided atrial chambers

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The morphological variations when one, or both, of the atrial chambers is subdivided, are many and varied. We sought to address clinical presentations, potentially misdiagnosed cases, diagnostic modalities, surgical approaches, and outcomes of this "family" of uncommon lesions.

METHODS

A total of 193 published investigations were synthesized. Diagnostic information was provided by clinical presentation, and multimodality imaging studies.

RESULTS

Almost three-quarters of patients with divided atrial chambers present during infancy with severe pulmonary hypertension and cardiac failure. Associated cardiac and extra-cardiac defects are present in between half and nine-tenths of cases. Acquired division of the left atrium has been reported after the Fontan operation, orthotopic cardiac transplantation, and complicated aortic valvar infective endocarditis. Surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass remains the definitive treatment. Balloon dilation may be considered in anatomically compatible variants in the setting of cardiac failure and pregnancy as a bridge todefinitive treatment. Overall, mortality has been cited between nil to 29%. Presentation during infancy, associated congenital anomalies, pulmonary hypertension, and surgery in the previous era, have been the reported causes of death. The operative survivors have long-term favourable outcomes, with near normal cardiac dimensions and low risk of recurrence. While asymptomatic patients with division of the right atrium do not need treatment, surgical resection of the dividing partition under cardiopulmonary bypass is recommended in symptomatic patients with complex anatomy, the spinnaker malformation, or associated cardiac anomalies. Balloon dilation may be considered in uncomplicated patients with less obstructive lesions. Hybrid intervention and endoscopic robotic correction also have been performed.

CONCLUSIONS

Resection of the dividing shelf allows the survivors to regain near normal dimensions with a low risk of recurrence. We submit that an increased appreciation of the anatomic background to division of the atrial chambers will contribute to improved surgical management.

Intraoperative 2D and 3D transesophageal echocardiographic assessment of cor triatriatum with ostium secundum atrial septal defect in an adult patient

Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly. Majority of the cases present in the childhood with an incidence of 0.4%. However, we report a case of cor triatrium sinister with ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) in a 39-year-old female. The intraoperative 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) offers an advantage over 2D TEE in visualizing the interatrial septum and the attachments of the fibromuscular accessory membrane in the left atrium (LA), which could help in surgical decision-making in this patient.

Cor Triatriatum: A Review

Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly defined by an abnormal septation within the atrium (left or right) leading to inflow obstruction to the respective ventricles. It exists either in isolated classical form or may be associated with simple to complex congenital cardiac anomalies. Several anatomical variants exist even in the classical form, and therefore, it may require multimodal diagnostic modalities to characterize and differentiate for better percutaneous interventional or surgical planning. It commonly presents in infancy but may remain undetected till death. Symptomatology typically mimics mitral and tricuspid stenosis in sinister and dexter varieties, respectively. However, features of systemic embolization, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, cyanosis, cardiac asthma, syncope, and sudden cardiac arrest have also been reported in the literature. Surgical correction under cardiopulmonary bypass is the preferred treatment. Nevertheless, balloon dilatation may be considered in anatomically compatible variants and in special circumstances, such as heart failure, pregnancy, or as a bridge to definitive treatment.

Cor triatriatum sinister with severe obstruction: a rare presentation in an adult

Cor triatriatum sinister is a rare congenital anomaly usually presenting in infancy or childhood. Most cases reported in adulthood have minimal obstruction. A case of critically obstructed cor triatriatum sinister presenting for the first time in adulthood is described here. The characteristic ECG, radiological and echocardiographic findings of this rare anomaly are demonstrated in this case report. The clinical features closely mimic mitral stenosis. The clues to differentiate cor triatriatum from other causes of left ventricular inflow obstruction are described.

Combined 2D and 3D Transthoracic and Transesophageal Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Nonobstructive and Obstructive Cor Triatriatum Sinister

Cor triatriatum sinister is a rare congenital condition in which the left atrium is partitioned into two chambers by a fibromuscular membrane. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and 2D transesophageal echocardiography are the standard tests of choice for the assessment of function and physiology, although with complex pathology, evaluation of specific structures may be limited. We are reporting the additional use of 3D transesophageal echocardiography to delineate the anatomical features of the membrane in a comprehensive way not possible by conventional 2D imaging.

Cor Triatriatum Sinistrum: Classification and Imaging Modalities

Cor Triatriatum Sinister is a rare congenital abnormality, usually diagnosed in childhood; few cases remain asymptomatic and are diagnosed in adulthood. In this review article we focus on classification and etiologies, clinical manifestations, novel diagnostic modalities and treatment of Cor triatriatum Sinister.

Real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic imaging of cor triatriatum and persistent left superior vena cava

The authors describe the case of a 54-year-old woman with the association of two rare congenital cardiac anomalies: cor triatriatum and persistent left superior vena cava with the special characteristic of direct drainage to the right atrium. Real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography offered a comprehensive anatomic and functional evaluation of these infrequent entities.

Coexistence of coronary cameral fistulae and cor triatriatum sinister in an elderly patient

Coronary cameral fistulae are unusual congenital or acquired anomalous communications between an epicardial coronary artery and a cardiac chamber. There are no reported cases of the association of coronary cameral fistulae and cor triatriatum, a rare congenital cardiac anomaly in which a fibromuscular membrane divides the left atrium into two chambers. We report the case of an 82-year-old man presenting with recurrent anterior chest pain. Echocardiographic examination identified non-obstructive cor triatriatum, mitral valve prolapse resulting in significant mitral regurgitation, dilated coronary arteries, and established the entry site of coronary artery fistulae at the apex of the left ventricle (Figure 1). Coronary angiography confirmed the existence of a plexiform fistula between the left anterior descending coronary artery and the left ventricle. Tetrofosmine scintigraphy revealed the presence of stress-induced ischaemia in the apex. To our knowledge, we report the oldest person with coronary cameral fistulae presenting with angina only at this stage, and the interesting case of the coexistence of two, although unconnected, congenital conditions in an elderly patient. In addition, this report highlights the important role of transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography to the characterization of these unusual anomalies, and the complementary information offered by three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography.