Left atrial calcification. Review of literature and proposed management.

Abstract

HomeCirculationVol. 34, No. 2Left Atrial Calcification Free AccessResearch ArticlePDF/EPUBAboutView PDFSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyRedditDiggEmail Jump toFree AccessResearch ArticlePDF/EPUBLeft Atrial Calcification Review of Literature and Proposed Management J. WARREN HARTHORNE, M.D., RONALD A. SELTZER, M.D. and W. GERALD AUSTEN, M.D. J. WARREN HARTHORNEJ. WARREN HARTHORNE From the Departments of Medicine, Radiology, and Surgery, Harvard Medical School and the Cardiac Unit of the General Medical Service, Radiological and General Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. Search for more papers by this author , RONALD A. SELTZERRONALD A. SELTZER From the Departments of Medicine, Radiology, and Surgery, Harvard Medical School and the Cardiac Unit of the General Medical Service, Radiological and General Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. Search for more papers by this author and W. GERALD AUSTENW. GERALD AUSTEN From the Departments of Medicine, Radiology, and Surgery, Harvard Medical School and the Cardiac Unit of the General Medical Service, Radiological and General Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. Search for more papers by this author Originally published1 Aug 1966https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.34.2.198Circulation. 1966;34:198–210AbstractCalcification of the left atrial wall or appendage or both constitutes a major complication and risk to mitral valve surgery due to difficulty in entering the left atrium, potential embolization, and impaired hemostasis. This condition can be diagnosed preoperatively by a variety of radiological techniques. Surgery must be tailored to the individual patient and in the patient with isolated, noncalcific mitral stenosis with complicating pulmonary hypertension is probably best carried out as a closed procedure recognizing the attendant hazards. For the patient without pulmonary hypertension or with mixed or combined lesions, an approach through a right thoracotomy or median sternotomy and open valvuloplasty through the posterior interatrial groove or atrial septum seems preferable. The high incidence of embolism, systemic or pulmonary, renders such patients suitable candidates for long term anticoagulation treatment. Previous Back to top Next FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails August 1, 1966Vol 34, Issue 2Article InformationMetrics © 1966 American Heart Association, Inc.https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.34.2.198 Originally publishedAugust 1, 1966 PDF download Advertisement