Cor triatriatum and anomalous pulmonary venous return: an unusual case.

In December 1954, a 29-year-old man with cor triatriatum underwent partial surgical repair consisting of left atrial implantation of a single anomalous pulmonary vein that had been draining into the innominate vein. In April 1989, at age 64, he returned for definitive cardiac repair. The contrast between these 2 procedures illustrates the tremendous progress that has been made in cardiac diagnosis and surgery during the past 35 years.