Giant right atrial appendage aneurysm successfully managed in a newborn: A rare case report

Abstract

A right atrial appendage aneurysm is an extremely rare cardiac anomaly. According to the literature, so far, 10 cases have been detected in pediatric populations. A very small number of cases have so far undergone surgical repair in the newborn period. It can be asymptomatic or may be associated with arrhythmia or right heart failure. Here we are presenting a case of a newborn with a giant right atrial appendage aneurysm, arrhythmia, and mild respiratory distress. The aneurysm was diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography and confirmed by a cardiac CT scan. It was resected surgically under cardiopulmonary bypass. Postoperatively, the baby was extubated on the 2nd postoperative day and discharged on the 7th postoperative day. Because of its rare occurrence, diagnosis is sometimes difficult, and it may be confused with the Ebstein anomaly.