Abstract
Summary
Invagination of the left atrial appendage in the dog, and the placement of a mass in the pocket so formed, resulted in an elevation of the left atrial pressure, apparently because of an increased impedance to flow through the mitral valve. Mild pulmonary hypertension, congestion, and edema, with right ventricular dilatation and hypertrophy were seen at sacrifice in 3 of the animals 10 to 202 days after surgery. The hemodynamic changes were apparently due to obstruction to flow plus mitral regurgitation, as may occur in atrial myxomas. Papillary growths appeared on the endocardial surfaces of the invaginated left atrial appendage, the left atrium, and the mitral valve. This effect is attributed to a growth stimulating effect of friction.
The potential of the method for the study of mitral stenosis and regurgitation, as well as for analysis of mechanisms of endocardial proliferations is discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.