title: Aortopulmonary artery fistula in atherosclerotic pseudoaneurysm presenting with congestive heart failure after aortic valve replacement.
abstract: An exceptional case of a giant pseudoaneurysm of the atherosclerotic ascending aorta complicated by aortopulmonary fistulization twelve years after aortic valve replacement is presented. The patient underwent successful surgical repair. In patients with a marked atherosclerotic thoracic aorta presenting with congestive heart failure and an acquired continuous systolo-diastolic murmur, aortopulmonary fistula should be considered and differentiated from ruptured sinus of valsalva aneurysm. Multi-slice computed tomography was the most useful diagnostic tool in planning surgical strategy and approach. Surgery is the treatment of choice for this serious albeit rare entity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, St Jan Hospital, Brugge, Belgium. alexander.bol@azbrugge.be
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bol
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Missault
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Dossche
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delanote
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001011:Aorta; D001021:Aortic Valve; D001159:Arterio-Arterial Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed