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Ruptured aortic dissection into the left atrium which presented as congestive heart failure and was diagnosed by transoesophageal echocardiography.
  1. G Van Camp,
  2. I Liebens,
  3. P G Silance,
  4. B Cham,
  5. J L Vandenbossche
  1. Department of Cardiology, St Pierre University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.

    Abstract

    A 72 year old man was admitted with severe dyspnoea. Ten days before he had had intense thoracic pain with loss of consciousness that was followed by increased dyspnoea. A continuous murmur was heard in the precordial and the left infrascapular regions. Lung auscultation showed stasis over the lower half of both lungs. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a bicuspid aortic valve and a dissection of the proximal aorta, which was considerably enlarged. Transoesophageal echocardiography confirmed dissection of the proximal aorta and showed a communication from the false lumen of the aortic dissection to the left atrium; and colour flow Doppler showed a continuous shunt to the left atrium. After transoesophageal echocardiography the patient had emergency surgical repair, which was successful. He had no complications in the post-operative period.

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