Diagnosis and surgical correction of cor triatriatum in an adult: Combineduse of transesophageal echocardiography and catheterization

This is an unusual case of a 37-year-old male whose initial presentation to medical care was for dyspnea, A transthoracic echocardiogram was suspiciou s for cor triatriatum, which was confirmed by transesophageal echocardiogra phy. Since the resting transmembrane gradient was low, a cardiac catheteriz ation with exercise hemodynamics was performed and demonstrated a marked in crease in pulmonary capillary wedge and pulmonary artery pressures. The cor triatriatum was successfully resected at surgery. We have reviewed the Eng lish literature and find this to be a unique approach to diagnosis and mana gement. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 51:88-86 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.