Symptomatic 10-year-old with a large right atrial aneurysm and a secundum atrial septal defect: a case report

BACKGROUND: Right atrial aneurysms are rare. If left untreated, they can result in arrhythmias, heart failure, catastrophic rupture, and thromboembolic phenomena. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 10-year-old African female who presented with heart failure. The patient underwent successful open-heart surgery to close the atrial septal defect, resect the right atrial aneurysm, and directly close it. Initial peripheral cannulation was performed to decompress the heart, allowing for a safe sternotomy before transitioning to aorto-bicaval cannulation. CONCLUSION: Surgery remains the best option for managing this condition.