Abstract
Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital heart disease that is often lethal in children if not correctly identified and properly managed, Characteristically an anomalous membrane divides the left atrium into two chambers one located posterosuperiorly which is connected to the common pulmonary venous trunk and the other anteroinferiorly which is connected to the left atrial appendage and the mitral valve. Eight patients with Cor triatriatum were been seen at our hospital from 1984 to 1999. The clinical presentation diagnostic evaluation and surgical results are outlined in this retrospective review. Resection of the obstructing anomalous atrial membrane was performed using a hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in all cases. Right atriotomy was performed in all patients and left atriotomy was performed in a patient who had poor preoperative general conditions and serious cardiac defects(TAPVR & hypoplastic left ventricle) died of low cardiac output during the immediate postoperative period. The postoperative course has been excellent in the remaining. Cor triatriatum is amenable to surgical repair with excellent results when diagnosed early and in those who are not complicated by other complex cardiac anomalies.
