Pulmonary vein variants predispose to atrial fibrillation: a case-control study using multislice contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Aims: Pulmonary veins (PV) play a pivotal role in atrial fibrillation (AF). Anatomical variants of PV have been described and related to a higher arrhythmogenic potential. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of PV variants and diameters of PV ostia in AF patients and controls.

[Dilated coronary sinus. A preoperative transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis].

A 36-year old woman was presented to our hospital with congenital ventricular septal defect and one-vessel coronary artery disease (75% proximal left main coronary artery) for CABG and repair of the VSD. After induction, a transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) baseline examination was performed, showing a severely dilated coronary sinus (CS) measuring approximately 3 cm (abnormal >1 cm). We suggested a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) draining into the CS.