Published in:
01-02-2019 | Case Report
Right heart failure caused by direct pressure of distal arch aneurysm
Authors:
Hironobu Sugiyama, Ryo Tohma, Takuya Misato, Kazuma Okamoto, Taro Hayashi, Satoshi Tobe, Tatsuro Matsuo, Kotaro Tsunemi, Takanori Oka, Nobuhiro Tanimura
Published in:
General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
|
Issue 2/2019
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Abstract
We report a rare case of right heart failure caused by distal aortic aneurysm. Although aortopulmonary fistula is a common complication of giant aortic arch aneurysm, right heart failure caused by mechanical pressure by aneurysm is very rare. A 79-year-old female patient presented dyspnea. Contrast computed tomography (CT) of the thorax delineated a 78 mm aortic arch aneurysm pressing the main to left pulmonary artery and a 40 mm pericardial effusion at maximum depth at posterior side. Echocardiography showed the acceleration flow from main to left pulmonary artery and moderate pulmonary hypertension. Left ventricular function, however, was preserved. We diagnosed right heart failure caused by giant aortic arch aneurysm and performed emergency aortic arch aneurysm replacement. After the operation, pulmonary artery pressure decreased and right heart failure improved.