SUCCESSFUL SURGICAL REPAIR OF LEFT ATRIAL DISSECTION AFTER MITRAL-VALVE REPLACEMENT

A rare case of left atrial dissection after mitral valve replacement i s reported. Low output syndrome developed in the immediate postoperati ve period. Cardiac catheterization showed marked elevation of the pulm onary wedge pressure, and left ventriculography revealed massive parap rosthetic leakage with left atrial dissection. At the reoperation, the dissecting cavity was successfully closed from inside the left atrium under cardiopulmonary bypass. We consider this complication another v ariation of an atrioventricular discontinuity after mitral valve repla cement.