Acute Left Atrial Intramural Wall Dissection After Mitral Valve Replacement

t TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY (TEE) has been used routinely in the diagnosis and follow-up of cardiac pathology. Left atrial (LA) dissection is a rare complication after mitral valve surgery. A case of LA dissection is presented, and the pathology was accurately defined and immediately diagnosed by using intraoperative TEE; the dissection was repaired at the time of surgery. This case highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis of LA dissection using intraoperative TEE, and a second cardiac surgery was avoided.