Surgical correction of common atrium without noncardiac congenital anomalies.

Aims: Common atrium (CA) is a rare congenital heart defect. We reviewed our experience of surgical treatment of CA and summarize the clinical features of CA and the key techniques for surgical correction.

Methods: Between August 1984 and August 2010, 37 consecutive cases of CA underwent corrective surgery. There were no clinical findings of Down, asplenia-polysplenia or Ellis-van Creveld syndromes in all cases. Mitral valvuloplasty was performed in 34 cases, and tricuspid valvuloplasty in 20 cases. Complete closure of a mitral cleft was required in 32 cases. All new atrial septa were reconstructed using patches. Follow-up period ranged from 1 to 20 years.

Results: There were no hospital deaths or conduction system block. After surgery, mild mitral insufficiency was observed in only one case. Two cases had moderate-severe mitral insufficiency at postoperative years 1 and 3, respectively, that required mitral valve replacements. One patient died of low cardiac output syndrome after reoperation.

Conclusions: Long-term survival after surgical correction of CA is good. Routine closure of a cleft in the mitral valve is very important for successful surgery.