Transthoracic echocardiogram of a 3-year-old child showed a hypoechoic cavity in the posterior wall of the left atrium communicating with the left ventricle through an orifice in the mitral annulus, suggestive of pseudoaneurysm (Ps), probably the result of infective endocarditis. Three-dimensional echocardiography was helpful to confirm the diagnosis and assess the anatomical relationship of the Ps.
Keywords: Infective endocarditis, left atrium pseudoaneurysm, mitral leaflet aneurysm
How to cite this article: Manuel DA, Sahayo BJ, Thomson VS, Jose J. Pseudoaneurysm of the left atrium following infective endocarditis. Ann Pediatr Card 2017;10:84-6
How to cite this URL: Manuel DA, Sahayo BJ, Thomson VS, Jose J. Pseudoaneurysm of the left atrium following infective endocarditis. Ann Pediatr Card [serial online] 2017 [cited 2022 May 21];10:84-6. Available from: https://www.annalspc.com/text.asp?2017/10/1/84/197048
Clinical Summary
A 3-year-old boy presented with a history of infective endocarditis of mitral valve 1 year back, which was treated with intravenous antibiotics for 6 weeks and fever subsided. The child was asymptomatic when he presented to us. On clinical examination, there was a pansystolic murmur heard in the mitral area. Chest was clear. Blood investigations revealed normal total and differential counts. Electrocardiogram showed left ventricular hypertrophy. Chest radiograph showed cardiomegaly. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed a hypoechoic cavity in the posterior wall of the left atrium (LA) communicating with the left ventricle (LV) through a perforation in posterior mitral annulus. This was suggestive of a pseudoaneurysm (Ps), probably the result of an abscess following infective endocarditis. Parasternal long axis view showed a clear communication of the Ps with the LV and the LA [Figure 1] and [Video 1]. Moderate mitral regurgitation jet was seen coming through the perforation into Ps and then into LA. There was no vegetation seen. Three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiogram revealed the presence of left atrial Ps [Figure 2],[Figure 3],[Figure 4] and [Video 2],[Video 3],[Video 4]. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis [Figure 5]. The child was afebrile and asymptomatic and was therefore managed medically. Child continued to be asymptomatic at 1 year follow-up.
Figure 1: ECHO, pseudoaneurysm communicating with left atrium and left ventricle
Left atrial Ps has not been described in children. Mitral annular abscess is a rare complication of infective endocarditis. Risk factors for periannular extension of infection in a patient with infective endocarditis include immunodeficiency states, staphylococcal endocarditis, prosthetic valve endocarditis, and new atrioventricular block.[1] Major complication of the mitral annular abscess is rupture or fistula/Ps formation. Mitral annular abscess should be differentiated from the Ps, in which the flow is detected into perivalvular cavity and it appears as a pulsatile echo-free pouch.[1],[2] Mitral leaflet aneurysm is defined as a localized bulge of the mitral leaflet toward the LA with systolic expansion and diastolic collapse.[3] In our patient, 3D echocardiography showed a perforation in the posterior mitral annulus and Ps in LA. Even though diagnosis can be made by transthoracic 2D and color Doppler echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and 3D echocardiography are more useful to better characterize this abnormality. Natural history of left atrial Ps is not known. As rupture of Ps into pericardial cavity can be lethal, surgical correction should be performed. Surgical intervention in perivalvular abscess with infective endocarditis is usually preferred after appropriate antibiotic treatment.[4],[5] Since our patient was 3-year-old, asymptomatic, and already 1 year following infective endocarditis, we decided to closely follow-up this child with periodic echocardiogram.
Rückel A, Erbel R, Henkel B, Krämer G, Meyer J. Mitral valve aneurysm revealed by cross-sectional echocardiography in a patient with mitral valve prolapse. Int J Cardiol 1984;6:633-7.
Wong PS, Yang H, Ling LH. Severe mitral regurgitation caused by annular abscess fistulating into the left atrium. Heart 2005;91:790.
Correspondence Address: Devi A Manuel Department of Cardiology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ida Scudder Road, Vellore - 632 004, Tamil Nadu India
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
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