Emergency surgical treatment of advanced endomyocardial fibrosis in Mozambique

Nat Clin Pract Cardiovasc Med. 2009 Mar;6(3):210-4. doi: 10.1038/ncpcardio1449. Epub 2009 Feb 3.

Abstract

Background: An 11-year-old girl presented to a specialist cardiac facility in Mozambique. She had severe heart failure and massive cardiac enlargement, herniation of the heart into the epigastrium, atrial fibrillation, signs of severe pulmonary hypertension and a low cardiac output.

Investigations: Chest radiography, echocardiography, 24 h Holter monitoring, and cardiac catheterization.

Diagnosis: Left and right endomyocardial fibrosis in conjunction with an aneurysmal left atrium, severe heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.

Management: Left ventricular endocardiectomy with mobilization of the chordae tendineae, mitral valve repair, tricuspid annuloplasty, and left atrial resection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Endomyocardial Fibrosis / pathology*
  • Endomyocardial Fibrosis / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mozambique
  • Treatment Outcome