Case Report
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World J Cardiol. Oct 26, 2014; 6(10): 1122-1126
Published online Oct 26, 2014. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v6.i10.1122
Aorto-right atrial fistula: Late complication of tricuspid valve infective endocarditis
Pedro A Villablanca, Shashvat Sukhal, Oscar Maitas, Afiachuukwu Onuegbu, Juan M Muñoz-Peña, Ajay Joseph, Carlos Requena, Divyanshu Mohananey
Pedro A Villablanca, Shashvat Sukhal, Oscar Maitas, Afiachuukwu Onuegbu, Juan M Muñoz-Peña, Ajay Joseph, Carlos Requena, Divyanshu Mohananey, Department of Internal Medicine, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
Author contributions: Each of the listed authors contributed to drafting and revision of this manuscript
Correspondence to: Pedro A Villablanca, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, 1900 West Polk Street, 15th Floor, Chicago, IL 60612, United States. pedrovillablanca@hotmail.com
Telephone: +1-773-4566609 Fax: +1-312-8649725
Received: April 15, 2014
Revised: June 1, 2014
Accepted: July 25, 2014
Published online: October 26, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Aorto-cardiac fistulas are rare, usually associated to prosthetic aortic valve infective endocarditis. The median duration of symptoms to echocardiographic detection of fistulization is about one month. We present a case of aorto-atrial fistula at late presentation, 30 years after tricuspid valve infective endocarditis. This article describes the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, diagnostic modalities, treatment and outcomes of aorto-cardiac fistulas.