ABSTRACT
An unusual case of acute pulmonary edema without associated arrhythmias in a 33-year-old woman is reported. The patient suffered recurrent pulmonary edema refractory to medication and eventual cardiac arrest. Successful emergency myectomy following cardiac arrest allowed the patient to resume an active lifestyle despite significant diastolic abnormality. During an 18-month follow-up the patient suffered one brief episode of pulmonary edema.
Subject(s)
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/complications , Pulmonary Edema/etiology , Adult , Atrial Fibrillation/drug therapy , Atrial Fibrillation/etiology , Cardiac Catheterization , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/drug therapy , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/surgery , Echocardiography , Emergencies , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , RecurrenceABSTRACT
Communications between the left ventricle and the right atrium are rare. A left ventricle to coronary sinus fistula is an extremely rare form of left ventricular-right atrial shunt. This is the first report of such a shunt following myocardial infarction, and emphasizes the use of two-dimensional and pulsed Doppler echocardiography in making the diagnosis.
