Natural history of a ventriculoatrial fistula after a gunshot injury in 1945.
We describe an exceptional case of a patient who suffered a penetrating heart injury from a gunshot wound in 1945 leading to a left ventricular-right atrial fistula. Despite the resulting left-to-right shunt the patient remained relatively asymptomatic for 50 years before the onset of congestive heart failure necessitated an operation.
Selinger
L
L
Medizinische Poliklinik and Klinik für Herz- und Thoraxchirurgie, University of Würzburg, Germany.
Werner
K
K
Silber
R
R
Nellessen
U
U
Inselmann
G
G
D000368:Aged; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000209:etiology; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000209:etiology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000209:etiology; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000293:injuries; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery