TECHNICAL NOTES  CARDIAC SECTION 

The Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery 2004 February;45(1):39-42

Copyright © 2004 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Avoiding potential complications in left atrial reduction: partial heart autotransplantation

García-Villareal O. A., González R

¹ Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, 2 Department of Anesthesiology Hospital de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares y del Tórax Monterrey, Nuevo León, México

Left atrial reduction is a surgical procedure designed in order to eliminate the chronic atrial fibrillation caused by mitral valve disease. However, this surgical technique is not high-risk free. Since a mount of tissue is excised from the left atrium, misalignment of the left atrium can be present. Bleeding of the posterior suture line in this chamber, as well as injury of the circumflex coronary artery may be fatal complications of this technique. Partial heart autotrasplantation offers a good solution allowing an excellent visual operative field. The circumflex coronary artery is under direct vision while performing the anastomosis of the left atrium, and the suture line becomes safer and easier.