Chiari network: a case report and brief overview

The Chiari network is mobile, net-like structures occasionally seen in right atrium near the opening of inferior vena cava and coronary sinus. This is usually of no clinical significance and is often diagnosed incidentally. However, sometimes it may cause diagnostic confusion with right atrial pathologies, and may favour thromboembolism by causing flow obstruction. It may be associated with infective endocarditis, arrhythmias, and migraine. Sometimes, it acts as a physical barrier during invasive procedures. The Chiari network has also been described to protect from pulmonary embolism by acting as an inferior vena cava filter due to its sieve-like effect at the cavo-atrial junction. Here, the Chiari network has been described in a case of Ebstein anomaly of tricuspid valve which produced diagnostic confusion during echocardiography. A brief overview has also been presented

Ortner Syndrome due to Concomitant Mitral Stenosis and Bronchiectasis

Ortner syndrome or cardiovocal syndrome is a rare condition characterized by hoarseness of voice associated with cardiovascular pathology. Compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve by the pulmonary artery or left atrium is usually responsible. Recurrent aspiration pneumonia may cause significant morbidity and mortality. Early recognition and treatment along with removal of the underlying cause, if possible, may change an otherwise poor prognosis of the condition. The case presented here describes a 35-year old female with hoarseness of voice in association with mitral stenosis and bronchiectasis. Presence of dual pathology contributed to the overall pathophysiology of the disease, and made its management difficult.