Summary
An adequate interatrial communication is necessary to accommodate right atrial output in patients with tricuspid atresia. We report a patient with a tiny opening in the midportion of the atrial septum, who was found to have an anomalous systemic venous to left atrial communication. This channel was not evident on noninvasive testing, but would likely have caused persistent desaturation following a Fontan procedure had it not been detected. In patients with restrictive interatrial communications, an angiogram of the right atrium may reveal similar anomalous channels.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bharati S, McAllister HA Jr, Tatooles CJ, Miller RA, Weinberg M Jr, Bucheleres HG, Lev M (1976) Anatomic variations in underdeveloped right ventricle related to tricuspid atresia and stenosis.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 72:383–400
Boruchow IB, Bartley TD, Elliott LP, Schiebler GL (1969) Late superior vena cava syndrome after superior vena cava—Right pulmonary artery anastomosis.N Engl J Med 281:646–650
Dick, M, Flyer DC, Nadas AS (1975) Tricuspid atresia: Clinical course in 101 patients.Am J Cardiol 36:327–337
Rose AG, Beckman CB, Edwards JE (1974) Communication between coronary sinus and left atrium.Br Heart J 26:182–185
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Holmes, G., Wagman, A.J. & Epstein, M.L. Anomalous systemic venous to left atrial connection in tricuspid atresia with severely restrictive interatrial communication. Pediatr Cardiol 12, 241–242 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02310575
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02310575