Unrepaired Tetralogy of Fallot in an 85‐Year‐Old Man

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart defect and accounts for about 5% of all congenital cardiopathies. The definitive treatment modality for tetralogy of Fallot is reparative surgery, which is recommended to be performed by the time of diagnosis. Without surgical repair, most patients would die during their childhood. In the past, survival data indicated that 66% of persons with tetralogy of Fallot not surgically treated lived until the age of 1, 49% lived until the age of 3, and 24% lived until the age of 10. We now present a rare case of a man with unrepaired tetralogy of Fallot who survived until the age of 85. He presented to our emergency room for dyspnea and palpitations due to a new‐onset high‐frequency atrial fibrillation and acute heart failure; transthoracic echocardiography showed the presence of tetralogy of Fallot. By consulting the scientific literature, we can say that this is the second patient who survived more than 80 years without surgical intervention.     

A Case of Late Presenting Unicuspid Aortic Valve in a 62‐Year‐Old Female

We describe the case of a 62‐year‐old female presenting with new onset progressive dyspnea on exertion and a new diagnosis of aortic stenosis. Transesophageal echocardiography showed fusion of the aortic valve leaflets suspicious for bicuspid aortic valve with dilated ascending aorta. Surgical replacement of the valve revealed a unicuspid aortic valve with one true commissure at the level of the left and noncoronary cusps. The case is supported by clinical, echocardiographic and angiographic imaging and discussion of current imaging modalities used in diagnosis of aortic valve pathology.     

Incidentally Found Situs Inversus with Dextrocardia: Inferior Myocardial Infarction in an 86‐Year‐Old Woman

Situs inversus with dextrocardia is a rare condition. Yet, the incidence of atheroclerosis and myocardial infarction in patients with dextrocardia is similar to that in general population. The diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction is somewhat tricky and difficult if the dextrocardia is not recognized. We present the electrocardiogram, coronary angiograms, and chest radiogram of a patient with incidentally found situs inversus with dextrocardia.     

Takayasu Arteritis Presenting as Severe Ascending Aortic Arch Dilation and Aortic Regurgitation in a 10‐Year‐Old Female

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a large‐vessel arteritis affecting the aorta and its major branches. It is a rare disease in children less than 10 years old, and its diagnosis is frequently delayed, likely because of TA's rarity and nonspecific symptoms early in the disease. Females are affected disproportionately, with a female to male ratio of 8.5 to 1. Recently, the European League against Rheumatism published an international consensus statement for making the diagnosis of childhood TA. Criteria include angiographic abnormalities of the aorta and/or its branches, pulse deficit or claudication, blood pressure discrepancy, bruits, hypertension, and elevated acute phase reactants. We described a 10‐year‐old female with severe TA of the ascending aorta and who presented with classic signs and symptoms of this rare disease.     

Unusual Cause of Heart Failure in a 65‐Year‐Old Woman

Left ventricular (LV) free wall rupture is a potentially lethal mechanical complication after myocardial infarction (MI). Pericardial adhesions or slow extracardiac leak and pericardial inflammation may result in a contained cardiac rupture. LV pseudoaneurysm is a relatively uncommon clinical entity. It may occur after MI, but also as a complication of infective endocarditis, cardiac surgery, or trauma. Patients developing LV pseudoaneurysm after MI may present angina pectoris or signs of congestive heart failure (HF) but often are asymptomatic. Surgery is the treatment of choice for LV pseudoaneurysms diagnosed in the first months after MI. The management of chronic LV pseudoaneurysms is still subject of debate. This report highlights a 65‐year‐old patient newly hospitalized for acute decompensated HF who was diagnosed with a large chronic LV pseudoaneurysm and severe mitral regurgitation. The patient underwent successful resection of the pseudoaneurysm and patch repair of the ruptured ventricular wall.