Avoiding potential complications in left atrial reduction: partial heart autotransplantation.

Left atrial reduction is a surgical procedure designed in order to eliminate the chronic atrial fibrillation caused by mitral valve disease. However, this surgical technique is not high-risk free. Since a mount of tissue is excised from the left atrium, misalignment of the left atrium can be present. Bleeding of the posterior suture line in this chamber, as well as injury of the circumflex coronary artery may be fatal complications of this technique. Partial heart autotransplantation offers a good solution allowing an excellent visual operative field. The circumflex coronary artery is under direct vision while performing the anastomosis of the left atrium, and the suture line becomes safer and easier.