Inverted left atrial appendage in an infant during cardiac surgery.

Inverted left atrial appendage is an unusual complication associated with congenital cardiac surgery. Inversion of the left atrial appendage may occur during the surgical procedure or afterwards. The left atrial appendage may invert iatrogenically or as a result of the negative pressure during placement or removal of the left atrial vent or during deairing manoeuvres. This event can be life-threatening because of the mass effect of the atrial appendage within the left atrial cavity.