title: Percutaneous transcatheter closure of aorto-right ventricular fistula using the Amplatzer duct occluder.
abstract: The occurrence of aorto-right ventricular fistula after an aortic valve replacement is rare. If it remains untreated, this condition can result in heart failure and could thus significantly compromise patient survival. Surgical closure is the treatment of choice; however, transcatheter closure has been attempted with relatively acceptable results. Here, we report on a patient who presented with heart failure with an aorto-right ventricular fistula that was present for nine years following aortic valve replacement. Successful transcatheter closure of the fistula with the use of the Amplatzer duct occluder was performed, suggesting that the percutaneous approach is an efficient technique for the treatment of such fistulae.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: emmgpetrou@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petrou
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iakovou
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leontiadis
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kourkoveli
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rammos
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karatasakis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D055989:Septal Occluder Device; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: aorto-right ventricular fistula; percutaneous closure