Fatal ascending aorta-to-right ventricle fistula formation after Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis of bicuspid aortic valve

Jakemia M Coleman; Bunyad Haider; Aloysius B Cuyjet; Ramzan M Zakir; Linas Riauba; Muhamed Saric

doi:10.1016/j.hrtlng.2005.07.006

Fatal ascending aorta-to-right ventricle fistula formation after Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis of bicuspid aortic valve

Heart Lung. 2005 Nov-Dec;34(6):429-32. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2005.07.006.

Authors

Jakemia M Coleman¹, Bunyad Haider, Aloysius B Cuyjet, Ramzan M Zakir, Linas Riauba, Muhamed Saric

Affiliation

¹ Department of Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.

PMID: 16324963
DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2005.07.006

Abstract

We present a case of a 46-year-old man with advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and congenitally bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis caused by methicillin- and gentamicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Endocarditis led to root abscess formation, a complete heart block, and fistulous tract formation between the ascending aorta and the right ventricle. Although perivalvular abscess is not an unusual complication of native valve endocarditis, a fatal fistulous communication between the ascending aorta and the right ventricle is exceedingly rare.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aorta, Thoracic
Aortic Diseases / diagnostic imaging
Aortic Diseases / etiology*
Aortic Valve*
Echocardiography, Doppler, Color
Echocardiography, Transesophageal
Endocarditis, Bacterial / complications*
Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging
Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology
Fatal Outcome
Follow-Up Studies
Heart Ventricles*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Staphylococcal Infections / complications*
Staphylococcal Infections / diagnostic imaging
Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*
Vascular Fistula / diagnostic imaging
Vascular Fistula / etiology*