Unusual complication after aortic valve replacement.
We present a report of a postoperative left ventricular-right atrial (LV-RA) communication after aortic valve replacement. Such intracardiac defects are rare but encountered occasionally after valve surgery. The diagnosis was made by use of transesophageal echocardiography with echo-Doppler and color-flow imaging. Complications of LV-RA shunts and differential diagnosis are discussed.
Department of Cardiac Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Cardiocentro Ticino, Via Tesserete 48, CH-6900 Lugano, Switzerland. c.frigg@freesurf.ch
Christoph
C
Frigg
Tiziano
T
Cassina
Francesco
F
Siclari
Romano
R
Mauri
D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*