Type A aortic dissection complicated with fistulization into the right atrium and right-to-left shunt

Sebastian Pagni; Christopher Mascio; Jaimin Trivedi; Jiapeng Huang

doi:10.1093/icvts/ivt023

Type A aortic dissection complicated with fistulization into the right atrium and right-to-left shunt

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2013 Jun;16(6):909-11. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivt023. Epub 2013 Mar 3.

Authors

Sebastian Pagni¹, Christopher Mascio, Jaimin Trivedi, Jiapeng Huang

Affiliation

¹ Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. [email protected]

Abstract

Fistulization between the aorta and the right atrium is a rare complication of ascending aortic dissection. Because of the typical haemodynamic unstability, the diagnosis is often made by bedside or intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography. The treatment is surgical, but with very high mortality. We describe a case of type A aortic dissection complicated with shock and fistulization into the right atrium with the right-to-left shunt through a patent foramen ovale. Surgical repair was successful.

Keywords: Aortic dissection; Aorto-atrial fistula; Atrial shunt.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Acute Disease
Aged
Aortic Aneurysm / complications*
Aortic Aneurysm / diagnosis
Aortic Aneurysm / physiopathology
Aortic Aneurysm / surgery
Aortic Dissection / complications*
Aortic Dissection / diagnosis
Aortic Dissection / physiopathology
Aortic Dissection / surgery
Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation
Coronary Artery Bypass
Echocardiography, Doppler, Color
Echocardiography, Transesophageal
Female
Fistula / diagnosis
Fistula / etiology*
Fistula / physiopathology
Fistula / surgery
Foramen Ovale, Patent / complications
Foramen Ovale, Patent / physiopathology
Heart Atria / physiopathology
Heart Diseases / diagnosis
Heart Diseases / etiology*
Heart Diseases / physiopathology
Heart Diseases / surgery
Hemodynamics
Humans
Shock, Cardiogenic / etiology
Treatment Outcome