A Proposed Etiology for Atrial Tachyarrhythmia in Neonates with Atrial Septal Aneurysms

Pediatr Cardiol. 2019 Jan;40(1):230-233. doi: 10.1007/s00246-018-2017-2. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Abstract

An atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) is an increasingly recognized entity that involves septal tissue significantly bulging into either atria instead of remaining in a relatively neutral position. ASAs may be described based on the length of the segment of atrial septal tissue involved as well as the distance and direction of excursion into the atria throughout the cardiac cycle. Complications associated with ASA include arrhythmias and thromboembolic events with the latter usually in the context of atrial shunting. While the presence of an ASA has been implicated in the development of atrial tachyarrhythmias, no clear mechanism has been elucidated to-date. In this case, we document one of the previously proposed mechanisms of atrial arrhythmia using echocardiography imaging.

Keywords: Arrhythmia; Atrial septal aneurysm; Atrial tachyarrhythmia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Echocardiography
  • Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Atria / physiopathology
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / complications*
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Male
  • Tachycardia / etiology*