Left ventriculo-pulmonary artery fistula.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Case Reports

Background:

• Complicated endocarditis presents significant morbidity and mortality risks.
• Native aortic valve endocarditis, particularly culture-negative forms, poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
• Left ventriculo-pulmonary artery fistula is an exceptionally rare complication of endocarditis.

Observation:

• A 70-year-old patient with no significant past medical history, except for acute cholangitis, developed a left ventriculo-pulmonary artery fistula.
• The fistula arose secondary to culture-negative native aortic valve endocarditis.
• This case represents a unique presentation of a rare endocarditis complication.

Findings:

• The study details a rare instance of left ventriculo-pulmonary artery fistula formation.
• Culture-negative native aortic valve endocarditis was identified as the underlying cause.
• Literature review contextualizes the rarity and clinical significance of this fistula.

Implications:

• This case underscores the potential for rare but severe complications from seemingly culture-negative endocarditis.
• Highlights the importance of considering unusual sequelae in complex cardiac infections.
• Contributes to the limited literature on ventriculo-arterial fistulas, aiding future diagnosis and management strategies.