Abbott Specimen 27
Specimen Card Nomenclature
Widely patent foramen ovale with calcified border and great dilatation of right chambers in mitral stenosis. Anomalus pocket in right auricle
International Classification of Diseases
Atrial septal defect
Atlas Illustration
Plate XIV Figure 5
Donor
Dr. Grunner
Date
1915
Age
38 years
Description
Front view of the specimen shows an enlarged left atrium (A) with a 1.5 x 0.8 defect in the fossa ovalis (well highlighted by background illumination). The mitral valve (arrow) orifice is slit-like and decreased in area. A view of the opposite side of the specimen shows a markedly dilated right ventricle and atrium.
Comment
The patient had a history of “rheumatism” at age 14 and repeated episodes of heart failure thereafter. It is likely that these represented attacks of rheumatic fever, eventually leading to mitral stenosis and left heart failure. The case was discussed by Abbott in Blumer’s 1928 edition of Bedside Diagnosis.
Atlas Illustration
Plate XIV Figure 5