title: Left ventricular outflow tract-right atrial fistula following aortic valve replacement.
abstract: A 59-year-old male, undergoing outpatient treatment of a sternal wound infection following elective aortic valve replacement surgery, presented with decompensated heart failure. The patient required emergency redo surgery after investigations revealed a left ventricular outflow tract to right atrial fistula due to endocarditis with right ventricular dysfunction. Echocardiography, in particular transesophageal echocardiography, was essential for the diagnosis of this rare event.
authors: Cardiac Surgery, Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Canada.
authors: Elsayed
authors: E
authors: Elmistekawy
authors: Sean
authors: S
authors: Dickie
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Nicholson
authors: Thierry
authors: T
authors: Mesana
mesh_terms: D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D035583:Rare Diseases; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014694:Ventricular Outflow Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery