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Missed case of sinus venosus atrial septal defect post coronary artery bypass grafting
Sudeep Das De1, Winn Maung Maung Aye, Sriram Shankar
1National University Health System, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Kent Ridge 119228, Singapore. sdasde@gmail.com.
Insights
A patient with myocardial infarction developed heart failure due to an undiagnosed sinus venosus atrial septal defect. Surgical repair resolved the heart failure, improving the patient's New York Heart Association class significantly.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a common procedure for myocardial infarction.
- Post-operative heart failure can present with complex etiologies.
- Right heart failure symptoms include edema and abdominal distension.
Observation:
- A 41-year-old man developed severe right heart failure post-CABG for anterolateral myocardial infarction.
- The heart failure was refractory to standard diuretic therapy.
- Cardiac MRI revealed left-sided myocardial infarction, dilated right atrium/ventricle, and right ventricular dysfunction.
Findings:
- A sinus venosus atrial septal defect (ASD) with partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (PAPVD) was identified.
- The patient underwent successful surgical repair of the ASD and re-routing of PAPVD.
- Post-operative recovery led to significant improvement in heart failure symptoms.
Implications:
- Undiagnosed congenital heart defects can complicate post-myocardial infarction recovery.
- Surgical correction of ASD and PAPVD can effectively treat refractory heart failure.
- This case highlights the importance of comprehensive cardiac evaluation in complex post-operative scenarios.
Abstract:
We report a case of a 41-year-old Indian man who initially underwent an emergency coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) after presenting with an anterolateral myocardial infarction.Post-operatively he developed progressively worsening symptoms of right heart failure with increasing abdominal distension and lower limb swelling. Clinically, the patient was in NYHA class 4 heart failure.He was admitted multiple times for the treatment of his heart failure, which was recalcitrant to diuretic therapy.He subsequently underwent an MRI scan, which revealed near transmural myocardial infarction involving mainly the left side of the heart. The right atrium and ventricle were grossly dilated, with moderate to severe right ventricular systolic dysfunction. A sinus venosus atrial septal defect with right-sided partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainange (PAPVD) was noted. He subsequently underwent surgery to repair the sinus venosus atrial septal defect (ASD) as well as re-route the PAPVD to the left atrium (LA). He was discharged on post-operative day 19 with oral diuretics.On follow-up at 1 month, the patient's symptoms had resolved and his clinical status corresponded to NYHA class 1-2.
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