Post prandial and nocturnal recurrent acute heart failure caused by a large hiatal hernia

Abstract

We report a case of left heart failure caused by a sliding hiatus hernia compressing on left atrium. A 95-year-old woman was admitted with recurrent episodes of shortness of breath and chest pain. The cause was uncertain as she had normal cardiothoracic ratio on chest radiography. Computed tomography (CT) of the thorax revealed an intrathoracic mass behind the left atrium causing external compression of the left atrium suggestive of sliding hiatus hernia. We present such a case and possible mechanisms of heart failure.

Keywords

• Hiatal hernia
• Left atrium
• Atrial mass effect
• Heart failure
• Dyspnea