Morphometric analysis of fossa ovalis in rheumatic heart disease.

Background: Rheumatic heart disease is an important cause of valvular disease in India, with resultant alterations in the interatrial septum and fossa ovalis. Morphometric details of fossa ovalis may help in its localization during transseptal catheterization so as to prevent complications.

Methods And Results: Autopsy heart specimens of rheumatic heart disease (n=30) and non-cardiac death (n=30) patients between 15-45 years of age were studied as case and control group, respectively.