Giant right atrium: a long-term complication of rheumatic heart disease

Authors

Ashraf Abugroun
Mohamed Taha
Hussein Daoud, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow
Walid Ibrahim

Recommended Citation

Abugroun A, Taha M, Daoud H, Ibrahim W. Giant right atrium: a long-term complication of rheumatic heart disease. Oxf Med Case Reports. 2020 Feb 28;2020(2):omaa011. doi: 10.1093/omcr/omaa011. PMID: 33133628; PMCID: PMC7588348.

Affiliations

Department of Internal Medicine, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center

Abstract

Giant right atrium (RA) is a rare entity often seen during childhood due to congenital anomalies. Limited literature has reported such finding in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease. Here we present a case of a 68-year-old female with a history of rheumatic valve disease treated with a Starr Edwards mechanical ball-in-cage mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve annuloplasty ring procedures. The patient developed heart failure and had multiple hospital admissions over three decades for heart failure exacerbations mostly triggered by medication and dietary non-compliance. She eventually developed a giant RA that filled most of her thorax. This case demonstrates an extreme form of cardiac remodeling caused by long-term rheumatic valvular heart disease.

Document Type

Article

PubMed ID

33133628