Aorta-to-right atrium fistula, an unusual complication of endocarditis.

Author: Miao-yan CHEN ¹ ; Dan-dan ZHONG ; Zhi-qiang YING
Author Information

1. Department of Internal Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Publication Type:Case Reports
MeSH: Aorta; diagnostic imaging; Arterio-Arterial Fistula; complications; diagnostic imaging; Echocardiography, Doppler; Endocarditis; complications; diagnostic imaging; Heart Atria; diagnostic imaging; Humans; Male; Middle Aged
From: Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2009;10(3):230-232
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a serious disease. Aorta-to-right atrium fistula is a rare but very serious complication of IE and predicts a higher mortality. This report describes a 50-year-old man with endocarditis, vegetation, perforation of noncoronary sinus, and formation of two aorta-to-right atrium fistulas with native valves detected by transthoracic echocardiography. This disease is lethal despite developments in cardiac imaging and antibacterial therapy. Early diagnosis, aggressive antibacterial therapy, and surgical treatment may improve the prognosis.