Congenital division of the left atrium: the influence of associated congenital lesions on the timing and mode of presentation

Purpose of study: Congenital division of an atrium is commonly associated w ith other cardiac malformations, which may influence presentation, Basic methods: Cases diagnosed at our institution between 1980 and 1997 wer e reviewed, to determine whether associated lesions influence presentation, Principle findings: 52 patients were diagnosed with atrial division (49 lef t, 3 right), mean age 4.8 yr. Patients could be divided according to age at diagnosis, Group 1: 32 patients aged less than or equal to 1 yr, 14 patients had assoc iated cardiac malformations other than atrial septal defect (ASD), Presenta tion was with pulmonary oedema, Group 2: 20 patients > 1 yr. 3 patients had associated major malformations other than ASD, Commonest presentation - isolated shortness of breath, Fifty patients underwent membrane resection and correction of associated an omalies (4% mortality), At follow-up (mean 12 yr) all patients were in NYHA class I or II, Conclusions: Patients with division of the atrium present early in infancy and with more severe symptoms when associated with other cardiac malformati ons. (C) 2000 The International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, Publish ed by Elsevier Science Ltd. All reserved.