1965 Report of Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis with Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect

Abstract

To the Editor:In an article entitled “Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis with Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect: Successful Surgical Correction” (Chest 68:246–248, 1975), Smith and associates reported the surgical correction of coincident idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis with ostium secundum atrial septal defect. These investigators stated that in 1971 their patient was reported by Forker and Morgan1Forker AD Morgan JR Hypertrophic subaortic stenosis with ostium secundum atrial septal defect.Chest. 1971; 60: 512-515Crossref PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar as the “first” patient with coincident idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis and ostium secundum atrial septal defect; however, it would appear that the first case may have been reported prior to that in the American Journal of Cardiology in 1965.2King SM Vogel JHK Blount Jr, SG Idiopathic muscular subvalvular aortic stenosis with associated congenital cardiovascular lesions.Am J Cardiol. 1965; 15: 837-847Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (11) Google Scholar Although we are fully aware that, in fact, our case might not have been the first, a thorough review of the literature at that time suggested that it was. Surgical repair was attempted in that four-year-old patient, with initial correction being directed towards relief of the outflow obstruction; however, the patient died in surgery. That surgical correction of both lesions is possible is clearly shown by the report of Smith and associates. To the Editor: In an article entitled “Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis with Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect: Successful Surgical Correction” (Chest 68:246–248, 1975), Smith and associates reported the surgical correction of coincident idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis with ostium secundum atrial septal defect. These investigators stated that in 1971 their patient was reported by Forker and Morgan1Forker AD Morgan JR Hypertrophic subaortic stenosis with ostium secundum atrial septal defect.Chest. 1971; 60: 512-515Crossref PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar as the “first” patient with coincident idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis and ostium secundum atrial septal defect; however, it would appear that the first case may have been reported prior to that in the American Journal of Cardiology in 1965.2King SM Vogel JHK Blount Jr, SG Idiopathic muscular subvalvular aortic stenosis with associated congenital cardiovascular lesions.Am J Cardiol. 1965; 15: 837-847Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (11) Google Scholar Although we are fully aware that, in fact, our case might not have been the first, a thorough review of the literature at that time suggested that it was. Surgical repair was attempted in that four-year-old patient, with initial correction being directed towards relief of the outflow obstruction; however, the patient died in surgery. That surgical correction of both lesions is possible is clearly shown by the report of Smith and associates.