Published online Jun 16, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i17.4395
Peer-review started: February 1, 2021
First decision: February 28, 2021
Revised: March 10, 2021
Accepted: March 29, 2021
Article in press: March 29, 2021
Published online: June 16, 2021
Processing time: 113 Days and 22.6 Hours
Cor triatriatum sinistrum or cor triatriatum sinister is a rare congenital heart disease that accounts for approximately 0.1% of all cardiac abnormalities. It is defined as the presence of an anomalous septum that divides the left atrium into two cavities, and in most cases, it can be asymptomatic or less frequently very severe.
A 37-year-old pregnant woman visited our hospital. In the first trimester scan, we detected signs of fluid in the pericardium (pericardial effusion) that reached the atriums. In the third trimester, an anomalous septum in the left atrium suspicious of cor triatriatum sinister was detected. Expectant management was decided, the pregnancy evolved normally and resulted in uncomplicated delivery of a healthy child. The findings in the prenatal scan were confirmed by echocardiography and the diagnosis of cor triatriatum sinister was confirmed. The newborn was asymptomatic at all times.
We show expectant management of cor triatriatum sinister and suggest an association between this entity and early pericardial effusion.
Core Tip: Cor triatriatum sinistrum is a rare finding in a prenatal diagnosis ultrasound, probably as rare as early pericardial effusion. Pericardial effusion has been associated with some congenital heart defects as cardiac diverticulum, but to the best of our knowledge, it has never been shown as the debut of cor triatriatum sinistrum. In this case, we present a case of cor triatriatum sinistrum that debuts as early pericardial effusion and shows the prenatal management.