Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
5879890 Cor et Vasa 2014 4 Pages PDF
Abstract
The left atrium is a thin-walled cardiac chamber with a low intraluminal pressure. It is located in the inferoposterior part of mediastinum, near to structures such as the esophagus and descending aorta. This makes it vulnerable to compression by pathologic changes associated with the gastrointestinal tract, mediastinum, lungs, pericardium and aorta. Depending on the level of the compression the patient may be asymptomatic or develops signs of cardiac insufficiency. We describe a lethal course of left atrial compression due to a chronic mediastinal abscess secondary to a ruptured esophageal ulcer. To our knowledge this is the first such case described, in part because bordered mediastinitis with abscess development is very rare.
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