Giant Right Atrium in a Case with Rheumatic Heart Disease

Abstract

Mini‐Abstract Massive right atrium (RA) enlargement is certainly more common in children than in adults, owing to rare congenital anomalies. RA could be enlarged in a case of rheumatic heart disease especially when associated with severe mitral valve disease or pulmonary hypertension. We are presenting a case of 25‐year‐old female patient who presented with features of congestive heart failure. Echocardiography revealed the presence of giant RA along with organic severe tricuspid regurgitation, mild tricuspid stenosis, and mild aortic regurgitation. RA volume measured in our case was about 1000 mL which is the largest description so far described in the literature.

Giant left and right Atrium in rheumatic mitral stenosis and tricuspid regurgitation

“…also reported a similar case of giant RA in a patient with rheumatic heart disease. [9] According to Bando et al .,[10] about 19% of patients requiring surgery for mitral valve disease had giant atria. Many of the surgeons believe that the effect of rheumatic process on left atrial elastic fibers is irreversible, and hence they tend to go only for mitral valve surgery without LA reduction.…”