Left Atrial Compression by Dissecting Aneurysm of the Ascending Aorta

External Mass Compressing the Left Atrium on Transthoracic Echocardiography

“…Several case reports exist in patients with esophageal carcinomas,1) and esophageal hematomas,2) dissecting aneurysms of the ascending aorta,3) and mediastinal masses 4). The transthoracic echocardiography of the patient presented herein showed a typical esophageal mass that compressed the left atrium.…”

Unilateral Left Pulmonary Edema Caused by Contained Rupture of the Ascending Aortic Dissection

“…The eccentric direction of the mitral regurgitant jet may impede local pulmo- Other causes of UPE include acute pulmonary emboli, reexpansion pulmonary edema, and external compression of the pulmonary vein or artery by a mediastinal tumor, resulting in an asymmetric inflow to the pulmonary arteries or outflow in the pulmonary vein (3)(4)(5). Acute aortic dissection causes compression of the left atrium, pulmonary artery, or pulmonary vein, leading to symptoms and signs mimicking heart failure, pulmonary emboli, and pulmonary stenosis (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). However, UPE caused by acute aortic dissection is extremely rare (12,13).…”

Cardiovascular collapse post chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention due to a compressive left atrial hematoma managed with percutaneous drainage

“…Most reported cases have occurred with antegrade CTO approaches, while one conservatively managed case complicating retrograde CTO PCI was recently described in this journal . LA compression can also occur as a complication of an electrophysiology procedure , cardiac surgery , or as a complication of a dissecting ascending aortic aneurysm .…”