Abstract
We report a case of surgical repair of acquired left ventricular-right atrial communication resulting from infective endocarditis. A 70-year-old man with aortic regurgitation due to infective endocarditis was referred to our hospital because of congestive heart failure. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography showed severe aortic regurgitation and left ventricular-right atrial shunt flow. He underwent surgery following intensive antibiotic therapy. The fistula was located at the atrioventricular membranous septum. The communication site from the left ventricular view it was below the commissure between the left and the non-coronary cusps, and from the right atrial view it was above the tricuspid annulus of the septal leaflet. The fistula was closed with autologous pericardial patch from the aortotomy and a mattress suture from the right atriotomy. Aortic valve replacement was performed simultaneously. The postoperative course was uneventful. He was in sinus rhythm all the time. It is important to discuss surgical procedure preoperatively with precise echocardiographic examination.
