Diverticulum of the heart: Part of the syndrome of congenital cardiac and midline thoracic and abdominal defects

A case of coexistent congenital midline thoracoabdominal and cardiac defects is presented. The cardiac lesions consisted of a large ventricular septal defect and a muscular diverticulum of the left ventricle. Refractory congestive heart failure was controlled by banding of the pulmonary artery, and the muscular diverticulum was resected. Such cases are rare but important since the defects are treatable. The clinical features, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment are discussed.