Device closure of an eccentric atrial septal defect can be challenging and needs technical modifications to avoid unnecessary complications. Here, we present a case of a 45-year-old woman who underwent device closure of an eccentric defect with a large device. The patient developed pericardial effusion and left-sided pleural effusion due to injury to the junction of right atrium and superior vena cava because of the malalignment of the delivery sheath and left atrial disc before the device was pulled across the eccentric defect despite releasing the left atrial disc in the left atrium in place of the left pulmonary vein. These two serious complications were managed conservatively with close monitoring of the case during and after the procedure.
A post-splenectomy patient suffers from frequent infections due to capsulated bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis despite vaccination because of a lack of memory B lymphocytes. Pacemaker implantation after splenectomy is less common. Our patient underwent splenectomy for splenic rupture after a road traffic accident. He developed a complete heart block after seven years, during which a dual-chamber pacemaker was implanted. However, he was operated on seven times to treat the complication related to that pacemaker over a period of one year because of various reasons, which have been shared in this case report. The clinical translation of this interesting observation is that, though the pacemaker implantation procedure is a well-established procedure, the procedural outcome is influenced by patient factors like the absence of a spleen, procedural factors like septic measures, and device factors like the reuse of an already-used pacemaker or leads.
BACKGROUND Pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula is a variant of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula and is a developmental anomaly. Delayed presentation, cyanosis and effort intolerance are some of the important features. The diagnosis is confirmed by computed tomography or pulmonary artery angiography. Catheter-based closure is preferred to surgery. CASE SUMMARY Left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula is rare. A 40-year-old male presented with effort intolerance, central cyanosis, and recurrent seizures. He had a large and highly tortuous left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula associated with a large aneurysmal sac in the course. Catheter-based closure was performed using a vascular plug. CONCLUSION Left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula is relatively uncommon compared to right pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula. Percutaneous closure by either a transeptal technique or guide wire insertion into the pulmonary vein through the pulmonary artery is preferred. The need for an arteriovenous loop depends on the tortuosity of the course of the fistula and the size of the device to be implanted because a larger device needs a larger sheath, necessitating firm guide wire support to facilitate negotiation of the stiff combination of the delivery sheath and dilator.
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