Radiographic evidence of asymmetrical enlargement of the left atrium without atrial infarction is presented. Giant atrial enlargement is rarely symmetrical, the atrial appendage can contribute to the enlargement, and the giant atrium can be effectively trimmed. This will reduce its size and, therefore, the space which it occupies, and will restore the anatomical relations of neighbouring struct...

We report a case of a 46 years-old woman, Caucasian, with hypertension and a primary diagnosis of infectious endocarditis. A transthoracic echocardiogram was performed suggesting right atrium myxoma. The patient was submitted to surgery, which found a tumor mass with a jelly-like exterior. The mass was sent to anatomo-pathological analysis which diagnosed a myxoid chondrosarcoma tumor. After su...

background two-dimensional (2d) strain is a new reproducible technique for assessing regional myocardial function; however, its application for evaluation of left atrium (la) function is less studied. objectives we sought to assess la function in heart failure patients using velocity vector imaging (vvi). patients and methods thirty five patients (mean age: 43.34 ± 18.1 years, 59.3% male) with ...

Dual-chamber (DDD) pacing for maintenance of atrioventricular (AV) synchrony generally requires the implantation of two leads, one in the right atrium and one in the right ventricle. During the early 1990's, the efforts were made to achieve DDD pacing using only one lead [1-3]. The idea was to use the electrical field generated between the floating ring electrodes located in the right atrium to...

Heart transplantation in a recipient with giant left atrium is rare. To correct the mismatch between and donor at level of atrium, plication has been proposed. We report case which was not feasible owing to significant calcification atrial wall tight pericardial adhesions resulting from two previous sternotomies. Creating pulmonary venous confluence allows orthotopic heart any size conformation...

Foreign bodies in the left atrium are rare events with potential major complications. We describe the percutaneous retrieval of a coil from the left atrium that migrated there during an embolization procedure for a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation.

OBJECTIVE To determine the type of atrial fibrillation induced by use of 2 pacing protocols during fentanyl and pentobarbital anesthesia before and after administration of atropine and to determine the organization of electrical activity in the left and right atria during atrial fibrillation in German Shepherd Dogs. ANIMALS 7 German Shepherd Dogs. PROCEDURES Extrastimulus and pacedown proto...

OBJECTIVE Thrombin, the final coagulation product of the coagulation cascade, has been demonstrated to have many physiological effects, including pro-fibrotic actions via protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1. Recent investigations have demonstrated that activation of the cardiac local coagulation system was associated with atrial fibrillation. However, the distribution of thrombin in the heart, ...

Human superior and inferior venae cavae at the orifices to hearts obtained from two cadavers were histologically examined with regard to the distribution of cardiac muscle fibers in their walls. The superior vena cava contained cardiac muscle fibers together with smooth muscle fibers. The cardiac muscle fibers were distributed uninterruptedly from the atrium to the root of the azygos vein, cove...