[A rare cause of acute heart failure? : Aorto-right atrial fistula!]
Benedikt Marahrens1, Dominique Sebastian Petrus2
1Zentrum für Innere Medizin 1 - Kardiologie, Universitätsklinikum Brandenburg, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg, Hochstr. 29, 14770, Brandenburg, Deutschland. b.marahrens@klinikum-brandenburg.de.
Background:
Acute heart failure with symptoms such as dyspnea and edema has various causes. In rare cases cardiac fistulas can cause acute heart failure. Herein we present a case of subacute heart failure due to an acquired fistula between the aorta and right atrium.
Case Report:
A 48-year-old male was referred to the emergency room with increasing dyspnea on exercise and pitting edema of the lower extremities starting approximately 4 weeks previously. Echocardiographic workup showed an aorta-to-right atrium fistula. The patient was referred to a cardiothoracic surgery center for closure of the fistula.
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