CONGRESS ABSTRACT

We present the clinical case of a 22-year-old man practicing competitive sport (sprinter) who underwent an echocardiogram in asymptomatic condition.The patient appeared to be in good health. No previous medical history. No cardiovascular risk factors. Echocardiogram revealed good biventricular function and no valvular diseases; the left atrium appeared moderately dilated and divided into two portions by the presence of a membrane: the finding was suggestive of Cor triatriatum sinister. Therefore, we carried out further investigations including transesophageal echocardiogram, bycicle stress echo and cardiac MRI. The membrane had two holes with a maximum area of 0.8 cm² and the transmembrane systolic gradient appeared significant, estimated at 12 mmHg. The venous return of the pulmonary veins was normal. Normal mitral leafleat movement. Stress echo showed a progressive increase in the mean transmembrane gradient up to a maximum of 28 mmHg at the peak of the effort but no symptoms appeared during the test. The tests led to a diagnosis of Cor triatriatum sinister with a significant obstructive gradient.  The patient underwent cardiac surgery with a positive outcome.