title: Common atrium: a rare cause of acute decompensated heart failure.
abstract: We report a rare case of common atrium and acute decompensated heart failure most likely precipitated by acute bacterial pericarditis leading to premature death, in a 25-year-old male footballer. The silent course of the disease for decades as well as the diagnostic and management pitfalls of this case illustrates the importance of early detection by echocardiography and urgent appropriate treatment in intensive care settings to limit the poor prognosis of the condition.
authors.affiliation: Cardia Heart Clinic, 6/7 Hadejia Road, Kano, Nigeria ; Department of Medicine, Bayero University/Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, 3 New Hospital Road, Kano, Nigeria.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Karaye
authors.affiliation: Cardia Heart Clinic, 6/7 Hadejia Road, Kano, Nigeria ; Department of Medicine, Bayero University/Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, 3 New Hospital Road, Kano, Nigeria.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Balarabe
authors.affiliation: Cardia Heart Clinic, 6/7 Hadejia Road, Kano, Nigeria ; Department of Medicine, Bayero University/Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, 3 New Hospital Road, Kano, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Yakasai
authors.affiliation: Cardia Heart Clinic, 6/7 Hadejia Road, Kano, Nigeria ; Department of Medicine, Bayero University/Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, 3 New Hospital Road, Kano, Nigeria.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Suleiman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Bayero University/Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, 3 New Hospital Road, Kano, Nigeria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saidu
authors.affiliation: Douala Cardiovascular Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Aimé
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonny