Generalised left ventricular dysfunction after traumatic right coronary artery - right atrial fistula

Abstract

A patient with traumatic right coronary artery to right atrial fistula, which was repaired by direct closure and aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass grafting, is described. Cardiac catheterisation and selective cine angiocardiography were performed pre- and postoperatively, and left ventricular (LV) function was studied in detail by invasive and non-invasive techniques. There was regional (diaphragmatic) LV asynergy but also generalised impairment of myocardial function, and these abnormalities persisted after operation.

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