Aortic atresia with aortico-left ventricular tunnel mimicking severe aortic incompetence in utero

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2006 May;29(5):845-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2006.01.059. Epub 2006 Mar 7.

Abstract

A fetus was diagnosed with regurgitation from the aorta into the left ventricle. A large aortico-left ventricular tunnel with aortic atresia was identified postnatally by echocardiography in a neonate suffering from severe heart failure. We successfully reconstructed the valve and closed the tunnel with a patch on his first day of life. At three-month follow-up, the baby is asymptomatic with mild aortic regurgitation. The combination of congenital aortico-left ventricular tunnel and aortic atresia can be misinterpreted in prenatal echocardiography as aortic regurgitation. This pathology may require urgent operative interventions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Valve / abnormalities*
  • Aortic Valve / surgery
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / diagnostic imaging*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fetal Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / surgery
  • Heart Failure / etiology
  • Heart Ventricles / abnormalities
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal