Korean J Med.  2014 Mar;86(3):329-333. 10.3904/kjm.2014.86.3.329.

Left Atrium Compressed by a Traumatic Focal Aneurysm of the Thoracic Aorta

• Park G
• Ko SY
• Kim JY
• Na SD
• Kim DH
• Cho JH

• KMID: 1867364
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2014.86.3.329

Abstract

A 78-year-old woman presented to our hospital with progressive dyspnea (NYHA class I-II) and epigastric discomfort that had developed after a traffic accident. She had a history of hypertension and cerebral infarction, but no history of cardiovascular disease. Her blood pressure was 130/70 mmHg and her heart rate was 66 beats/min and regular. The electrocardiogram showed normal sinus rhythm. The chest X-ray revealed bilateral pleural effusions. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) demonstrated an aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta compressing the left atrium (LA). Left and right ventricular systolic function was preserved. Whole-body computed tomography (CT) angiography revealed that a focal 40-mm-diameter saccular aneurysm in the descending aorta at the level of T7-8, with an intramural hematoma, was compressing the LA and left pulmonary vein. After surgical management, follow-up TTE and CT showed decompression of the LA and left pulmonary vein.

Keyword

Aortic aneurysm; Left atrium; Echocardiography

MeSH Terms

Accidents, Traffic
Aged
Aneurysm*
Angiography
Aorta, Thoracic*
Aortic Aneurysm
Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cerebral Infarction
Decompression
Dyspnea
Echocardiography
Electrocardiography
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Heart Atria*
Heart Rate
Hematoma
Humans
Hypertension
Pleural Effusion
Pulmonary Veins
Thorax