A rare case of mitro-aortic intervalvular fibrosa aneurysm evolving in the para-aortic cavity.

The mitro-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIF) connects the anterior mitral leaflet to the posterior portion of the aortic annulus. The aneurysms of MAIF represent a complication of aortic valve endocarditis, but blunt chest trauma, aortic valve replacement and congenital heart disease have also been reported as a cause. We describe a case of an aneurysm of MAIF, whose progression was documented by serial echocardiographic observations.

[Relation between left atrial spontaneous echocontrast and pulmonary venous flow in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: implications for stratification of thromboembolic risk].

Background: The links between pulmonary venous flow (PVF) and left atrial stasis have not been adequately defined in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. In this setting, we aimed to study the relationship between PVF and the occurrence of left atrial spontaneous echocontrast (SEC) in order to evaluate its clinical relevance in the assessment of the cardioembolic risk.

Methods: We studied by echocardiography 109 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (65 males, 44 females, mean age 66 +/- 9 years).