Giant left atrium

IMAGE

Giant left atrium

Flávio Justo Maciel; Lucas de Lima Carvalho; Mário Osvaldo Vrandecic

Biocor Instituto de Doenças Cardiovasculares - Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil

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Male, 57 years old was submitted to mitral bioprosthesis implantation 10 years ago. Hospitalization in March, 2005, reporting Class IV congestive heart failure (CHF) and advanced (atrioventricular) AV blocking (which required the implantation of a pacemaker). Auscultation was compatible with severe mitral failure.

Echocardiogram - Left ventricle reporting normal dimensions (VDF-141ml; VSF-44ml). Ejection fraction -0.69. Thickened mitral bioprosthesis, allowing important regurgitation. Left atrium dimensions very enlarged (diameter =159mm). Two masses suggestive of thrombus adherent to the atrial wall (54x70mm and 49x73mm).

Comment - The relevance of the present case is left atrium unusual volume. Beloved author Charles K. Friedberg¹, in his Diseases of the Heart, reported the largest atrium he had ever seen (in an autopsy), with 1 liter volume capacity. In our case, roughly calculating the atrium as a sphere, we reached the extravagant volume of 2.1 liters.

REFERENCE

1. Friedberg CK. Enfermedades del Corazón. México: Ed. Interamericana; 1968.

Received on 06/03/05

Accepted on 06/08/05

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  28 July 2006
• Date of issue
  July 2006