Left Atrium Compressed by a Traumatic Focal Aneurysm of the Thoracic Aorta.
10.3904/kjm.2014.86.3.329
- Author:
Gun PARK
1
;
Seung Yeong KO
;
Ju Yeong KIM
;
Sang Don NA
;
Dong Han KIM
;
Jang Hyun CHO
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Carollo Hospital, Suncheon, Korea. donghani@daum.net
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Aortic aneurysm;
Left atrium;
Echocardiography
- MeSH:
Accidents, Traffic;
Aged;
Aneurysm*;
Angiography;
Aorta, Thoracic*;
Aortic Aneurysm;
Blood Pressure;
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Cerebral Infarction;
Decompression;
Dyspnea;
Echocardiography;
Electrocardiography;
Female;
Follow-Up Studies;
Heart Atria*;
Heart Rate;
Hematoma;
Humans;
Hypertension;
Pleural Effusion;
Pulmonary Veins;
Thorax
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2014;86(3):329-333
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
A 78-year-old woman presented to our hospital with progressive dyspnea (NYHA class I-II) and epigastric discomfort that had developed after a traffic accident. She had a history of hypertension and cerebral infarction, but no history of cardiovascular disease. Her blood pressure was 130/70 mmHg and her heart rate was 66 beats/min and regular. The electrocardiogram showed normal sinus rhythm. The chest X-ray revealed bilateral pleural effusions. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) demonstrated an aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta compressing the left atrium (LA). Left and right ventricular systolic function was preserved. Whole-body computed tomography (CT) angiography revealed that a focal 40-mm-diameter saccular aneurysm in the descending aorta at the level of T7-8, with an intramural hematoma, was compressing the LA and left pulmonary vein. After surgical management, follow-up TTE and CT showed decompression of the LA and left pulmonary vein.
