ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF LEFT JUXTAPOSED ATRIAL APPENDAGES ASSOCIATED WITH DEXTRO-TRANSPOSITION OF THE GREAT-ARTERIES

We found that echocardiography in cases of left juxtaposed atrial appe ndage (JAA) consistently featured a malpositioned right atrial appenda ge, abnormal spatial orientation of the atrial septum, and posterior d eviation of the septum secundum toward the left atrium. The qualitativ e displacement of the septum secundum together with the posterior and leftward displacement of the right atrial appendage (with respect to t he great arteries) prompted us to pose questions concerning the morpho genesis of left JAA and the implications for surgery. The importance o f precatheterization and preoperative recognition of left JAA in dextr o-transposition of the great arteries by echocardiography cannot be ov eremphasized when planning a balloon atrial septostomy or a biventricu lar repair.