POSTINFARCTION ATRIOVENTRICULAR SEPTAL RUPTURE

Postinfarction communication between a left ventricular aneurysm and t he right atrium is a rare acquired disease. We report a case of a 72-y ear-old man who recently had dyspnea on minimal exertion and was found to have left ventricle-to-right atrial shunt by two-dimensional trans thoracic echocardiography. This diagnosis was confirmed with transesop hageal echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and angiography. The patient underwent successful repair but died of multisystem failure. This case shows the importance of transthoracic echocardiography for t he adequate diagnosis and management of such cases.