Abstract
A case of herniation of the left atrial appendage, through a defect in the pericardium, is described in a 16-year-old boy who was below the third percentile for height and weight. The clinical presentation was an acute pericarditis. Widespread inversion of T waves on the electrocardiogram and collapse of the lower lobe of the left lung with pleural effusion developed. Thoracotomy showed strangulation of the atrial appendage which was excised, and the pericardial defect repaired. After operation there was a striking improvement in the electrocardiogram and a rapid gain in weight. Syndromes caused by pericardial defects are reviewed.
Full text
PDF


Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Behrendt D. M., Scannell J. G. Pericardial fat necrosis. An unusual cause of severe chest pain and thoracic "tumor". N Engl J Med. 1968 Aug 29;279(9):473–475. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196808292790906. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- DIMOND E. G., KITTLE C. F., VOTH D. W. Extreme hypertrophy of the left atrial appendage: the case of the giant dog ear. Am J Cardiol. 1960 Jan;5:122–125. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(60)90019-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FRY W. Herniation of the left auricle. Am J Surg. 1953 Dec;86(6):736–738. doi: 10.1016/0002-9610(53)90388-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Godwin T. F., Auger P., Key J. A., Wigle E. D. Intrapericardial aneurysmal dilatation of the left atrial appendage. Circulation. 1968 Mar;37(3):397–401. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.37.3.397. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KAVANAGH-GRAY D., MUSGROVE E., STANWOOD D. Congenital pericardial defects. Report of a case. N Engl J Med. 1961 Oct 5;265:692–694. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196110052651408. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sanderud A., Garman D., Hatle L., Rokseth R. Aneurysmal dilatation of the left auricle. Scand J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1971;5(2):143–146. doi: 10.3109/14017437109135546. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- TUCKER D. H., MILLER D. E., JACOBY W. J., Jr CONGENITAL PARTIAL ABSENCE OF THE PERICARDIUM WITH HERNIATION OF THE LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE. Am J Med. 1963 Oct;35:560–565. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(63)90153-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tubbs O. S., Yacoub M. H. Congenital pericardial defects. Thorax. 1968 Nov;23(6):598–607. doi: 10.1136/thx.23.6.598. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WILLIAMS W. G. DILATATION OF THE LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE. Br Heart J. 1963 Sep;25:637–643. doi: 10.1136/hrt.25.5.637. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Yacoub M. H., Williams W. G., Ahmad A. Strangulation of the heart following intrapericardial pneumonectomy. Thorax. 1968 May;23(3):261–265. doi: 10.1136/thx.23.3.261. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]


