An aorto-rightventricular fistula with hemopericardium due to sinus of Valsalva perforation following a stab injury to the chest.
- 1 Kardiologické oddelenie, Východoslovenský ústav srdcových chorôb, Košice
- 2 Kardiochirurgické oddelenie, Slovenský ústav srdcových chorôb, Bratislava, Slovenská republika
The case of a 19-year-old man with a one-month history of stab injury to the chest ago is presented. He complained of progression of dyspnea, fatigue and palpitations. He had been admitted to hospital with an auscultation finding of intensive systolic murmur. Chest X-ray showed a dilated heart in the area of the right ventricle, with transthoracic echocardiography suggesting rupture of the sinus of Valsalva. The patient was transferred to the heart center for additional diagnostic procedures and management. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography was performed revealing extensive pericardial effusion, with hemopericardium visualization, together with a fistula due to a left-to-right shunt between the aorta and the right ventricular outflow tract. The patient was hemodynamically stable, therefore he was transferred to the Slovak Heart Institute in Bratislava and the fistulas were successfully sutured. No postoperative complications were reported. The patient was later transferred to a rehabilitation department in good condition.
Keywords: Heart injury; Stab wound; Hemopericardium; Aorto-ventricular fistula; Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography; Surgical revision
Published: February 1, 2005 Show citation