title: Aorto-right atrial fistula.
abstract: We report a child in whom a fistula connected the descending thoracic aorta to the right atrium. This is a previously unreported cardiac malformation. The patient was initially misdiagnosed as having a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). On clinical examination and auscultation, the problem was different from PDA in that the continuous machinery murmur was better heard on the right parasternal area and posteriorly on the left. Surgical ligation of the fistula through a left thoracotomy abolished the murmur.
authors.affiliation: King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital, Cardiac Services Department, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. afelwatidy@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ahmed F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Elwatidy
authors.forename: Ahmed N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Galal
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rhydderch
authors.forename: Abdullah K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ashmeg
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis*