Chronic haemoptysis as delayed complication of ventricular aneurysmectomy.
Two patients developed a ventriculo-pulmonary fistula several years after original resection of a left ventricular aneurysm. Both presented with chronic mild haemoptysis. In the first case mild haemoptysis lasted nearly 19 months, and despite a battery of non invasive and invasive investigations, diagnosis was ultimately made via exploratory thoracotomy. In the second case mild haemoptysis lasted four months and finally manifested as a large haemoptysis. Diagnosis was made preoperatively using echocardiography. We recommend the use of echocardiography when haemoptysis occurs in a patient with a previous history of ventricular aneurysm repair.
Department of Cardiology, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK.
J D
JD
Kovac
T J
TJ
Spyt
R K
RK
Firmin
P K
PK
Verma
D P
DP
de Bono
D000368:Aged; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013997:Time Factors