Late presentation of aorto-right ventricular fistula and associated aortic regurgitation following penetrating chest trauma.
We present a case in which a 39-year-old man was assaulted in 2002 and sustained penetrating chest trauma. He was treated conservatively, and presented six years later with exertional dyspnoea and a continuous murmur. Echocardiography detected an aorta-right ventricular fistula and an important aortic regurgitation. The aorta-right ventricular fistula was repaired and the aortic valve was replaced with a mechanical prosthesis. Traumatic aorto-right ventricular fistulas and aortic regurgitation are often masked by the primary injury and may take months or years to become clinically evident.
Theron
J P
JP
Department of Cardiology, Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa. jptt@cybersmart.co.za
Du Theron
H
H
Long
M
M
Marx
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery