Calcified right atrial and pulmonary artery mass after ventriculoatrial shunt insertion.
Insertion of ventriculoatrial (VA) shunts is an effective method of draining cerebrospinal fluid from the cerebral ventricle to the right atrium and significantly improves the survival of patients with hydrocephalus. Some patients who received a VA shunt subsequently developed complications, including thrombus formation around the intracardiac end of the catheter and thromboembolism. The relative rarity of complications and the long latency between shunt insertion and the development of symptoms in VA shunt recipients may result in misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. The case presented suggests that such patients may require routine echocardiography at regular intervals. Otherwise, the indwelling foreign body may become the source of a life-threatening thrombotic mass, if not recognised and treated appropriately.
BH Heart Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. emirmujanovic2@gmail.com
Emir
E
Mujanovic
Jacob
J
Bergsland
Stjepan
S
Jurcic
Sevleta
S
Avdic
Sanja
S
Stanimirovic-Mujanovic
Emir
E
Kabil
D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006325:Heart Atria; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*