Double-Chamber Left Atrium After Mitral Valve Surgery

A 44-YEAR-OLD woman (height 158 cm, weight 62 kg) presented with shortness of breath on mild exertion of several months duration. An electrocardiogram indicated the presence of atrial fibrillation with a ventricular rate of 80 to 100/min. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe mitral stenosis with an enlarged left atrium. The patient was scheduled for mitral valve replacement surgery. After induction of anesthesia, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) confirmed the previous findings and demonstrated layered thrombus in the left atrium along the atrial septum.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Diagnostic Dilemma Source Type: research