[Extreme cardiomegaly]

Z Kardiol. 2002 Jun;91(6):508-12. doi: 10.1007/s00392-002-0802-6.
[Article in German]

Abstract

We report the case of 65 year old male patient with extreme heart enlargement. The patient was admitted to the hospital due to acute bleeding from varicose veins of the cardia. The endoscopic treatment by means of hemostatic clips and fibrine was successful. However the patient died two weeks later without having any complaints. The heart of the patient weighed 1350 g. Multiple coronary bypasses were found. There was also a recent myocardial infarction. The adoptive pathophysiologic changes accompanying extreme cardiomegaly are discussed. Numerous cases have been recorded of unusually large hearts, which in a few instances have even exceeded the one reported here. The analysis of observations reported in the literature reveals that rheumatic myocarditis and syphilitic aortitis were responsible for the majority of cases with extreme cardiac hypertrophy. Valvular deformities were also frequent findings. The occurrence of extreme cardiac enlargement in an elderly patient associated with multiple coronary bypasses has been not described so far.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Cardiomegaly / pathology*
  • Coronary Artery Bypass
  • Coronary Artery Disease / pathology
  • Coronary Vessels / pathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / pathology
  • Esophageal and Gastric Varices / pathology
  • Esophageal and Gastric Varices / therapy
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / pathology
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / therapy
  • Heart Aneurysm / pathology
  • Heart Failure / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / pathology
  • Male
  • Myocardial Infarction / pathology
  • Myocardial Infarction / surgery
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Postoperative Complications / pathology