Aorta-right atrial fistula: a rare complication of prosthetic aortic valvular endocarditis

Necla Ozer; Ali Deniz; Enver Atalar; Serdar Aksoyek; Kenan Ovunc; S Sirri Kes

doi:10.1016/j.echo.2006.11.010

Aorta-right atrial fistula: a rare complication of prosthetic aortic valvular endocarditis

J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2007 May;20(5):538.e5-6. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2006.11.010.

Authors

Necla Ozer¹, Ali Deniz, Enver Atalar, Serdar Aksoyek, Kenan Ovunc, S Sirri Kes

Affiliation

¹ Cardiology Department, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. neclaozer@hotmail.com <neclaozer@hotmail.com>

PMID: 17484999
DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2006.11.010

Abstract

Aortic root abscess is a well-known complication of aortic valve endocarditis but intracardiac fistulas are rarely seen. This report describes a patient with prosthetic valve endocarditis who had an aortic root abscess that ruptured into the right atrium creating an aortic-right atrial fistula and causing a highly mobile vegetative mass in the right atrium.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Aorta, Thoracic
Aortic Diseases / diagnostic imaging
Aortic Diseases / etiology*
Aortic Valve Insufficiency / surgery
Diagnosis, Differential
Echocardiography, Transesophageal
Endocarditis / complications*
Endocarditis / diagnostic imaging
Endocarditis / microbiology
Female
Heart Atria*
Heart Valve Prosthesis / microbiology*
Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / adverse effects
Humans
Prosthesis-Related Infections / complications*
Prosthesis-Related Infections / diagnostic imaging
Prosthesis-Related Infections / microbiology
Staphylococcal Infections / complications*
Staphylococcal Infections / diagnostic imaging
Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
Vascular Fistula / diagnostic imaging
Vascular Fistula / etiology*