Post-traumatic Mitral Regurgitation and Ventricular Septal Defect in Absence of Left Pericardium

Summary

A six-year-old boy was hospitalized following a car accident. Cardiac catheterization demonstrated acute post-traumatic mitral regurgitation (MR) and ventricular septal defect (VSD).

The patient was operated on for mitral valve replacement and closure of the VSD. On opening the chest absence of the left pericardium was noted.

Cardiac catheterization performed in the postoperative period demonstrated a residual left-to-right shunt at ventricular level The patient was reoperated on 10 months later for closure of the residual VSD. Six months after the last operation the patient is in good condition.

The congenital absence of the pericardium is considered as favoring both the post-traumatic cardiac lesions and the postoperative pulmonary problems on the left side.

Key words

Post-traumatic mitral regurgitation - Post-traumatic ventricular septal defect - Congenital absence of left pericardium - Surgical correction