Mitral atresia: A study of 32 cases

Abstract

A clinical and pathologic review is made of 32 cases of mitral atresia. Mitral atresia usually coexists with other complex cardiac anomalies, including aortic atresia, transposition of the great vessels, common ventricle, pulmonary or subpulmonary stenosis, as well as anomalies of the aortic arch. An anatomic classification of mitral atresia is made on the basis of (1) the interrelation of the great vessels, (2) the anatomic state of the left-sided cardiac structures, and (3) the state of the ventricular septum. Group I consists of those cases in which the great vessels are normally interrelated (24 cases) and in which there is hypoplasia of the left-sided cardiac structures with aortic valvular atresia or hypoplasia. Group II consists of those cases in which there is transposition of the great vessels with a common ventricle or two ventricles present (8 cases). The clinical course is usually shorter in the former than in the latter group. Selective angiocardiography, particularly from the left atrium, appears to represent a reliable method for the clinical diagnosis of mitral atresia.