CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE: ATRESIA OF THE TRICUSPID ORIFICE

Atresia of the tricuspid orifice is an uncommon congenital cardiac lesion. To date only thirteen cases of the true developmental form of this anomaly have been reported. The rarity of its occurrence and the other interesting features presented by this case we believe render it worthy of a report. REPORT OF CASE History .—A Negro child, aged 3½ years, was first observed in the pediatric wards of the Philadelphia General Hospital on Feb. 7, 1930. The chief complaints were dyspnea and attacks of choking. The child had had no illnesses of note, aside from occasional colds and two attacks of tonsillitis. She had been short of breath practically since birth, and the parents were told that the child had a "weak heart." However, she was apparently fairly well until the evening prior to admission, when she awoke with an attack of choking, extreme shortness of breath and vomiting. Since that