Late presentation of aorto-right ventricular fistula and associated aortic regurgitation following penetrating chest trauma

• Published in: Cardiovascular journal of Africa Vol. 20; no. 6; pp. 357 - 359
• Main Authors: Theron, J P, Du Theron, H, Long, M, Marx, J D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa 01.11.2009
• Subjects: Adult; Aorta - pathology; Aortic Valve - pathology; Aortic Valve - surgery; Aortic Valve Insufficiency - diagnosis; Aortic Valve Insufficiency - etiology; Aortic Valve Insufficiency - surgery; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Heart Ventricles - pathology; Humans; Male; Thoracic Injuries - complications; Thoracic Injuries - surgery; Vascular Fistula - etiology; Vascular Fistula - surgery; Wounds, Penetrating - complications; Wounds, Penetrating - surgery
• ISSN: 1995-1892

We present a case in which a 39-year-old man was assaulted in 2002 and sustained penetrating chest trauma. He was treated conservatively, and presented six years later with exertional dyspnoea and a continuous murmur. Echocardiography detected an aorta-right ventricular fistula and an important aortic regurgitation. The aorta-right ventricular fistula was repaired and the aortic valve was replaced with a mechanical prosthesis. Traumatic aorto-right ventricular fistulas and aortic regurgitation are often masked by the primary injury and may take months or years to become clinically evident.