Heart failure induced by the restrictive left ventricle due to hiatus hernia.

A 76-year-old woman presented with shortness of breath and dyspnea after the intake of meals. Chest X-ray showed pulmonary congestion and pleural effusion. Computed tomography disclosed a hiatus hernia. Echocardiography demonstrated that the motion of the posterior wall in the left ventricle (LV) was paradoxically by the hiatus hernia, although LV ejection fraction was preserved. The restriction of LV by hiatus hernia could cause heart failure and open surgical repair of the hiatus hernia was performed. Dyspnea after the intake of meals disappeared and no recurrence of heart failure was observed in the subsequent period of several years.