A novel technique for giant left atrium reduction

We herein describe a safe and reproducible technique for left atrial volume reduction in patients with a giant left atrium. In a 56-year-old patient u ndergoing redo mitral valve replacement, the left atrium measured 18 X 20 X 17 cm occupying the middle-lower segment of the right hemithorax with comp ression of the adjacent organs. The left atrial volume was reduced by trian gular resections of the atrial wall and the mitral valve was replaced using a mechanical prosthesis. The postoperative course was uneventful and the l eft atrial diameter was 11.2 cm at the latest control. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.