Giant Left Atrium in Rheumatic Mitral Disease: Beyond a Simple Adaptive Mechanism: A Case Report

Abstract

Giant left atrium is a condition characterized by an extreme enlargement of the left atrium with a diameter more than 80 mm and it is usually associated with long standing rheumatic mitral valve disease. We present a case of giant left atrium in a 47-year-old female patient who had a history of rheumatic heart disease, severe mitral disease, permanent atrial fibrillation and causing the compression of adjacent intra-thoracic structures. The patient underwent a successful mitral valve replacement with reduction of the enlarged sized left atrium with good outcomes.