Right pulmonary artery-left atrial communication A case report and literature review

Iraj A. KASHANI, Patricia GAITAN, Malea GRDVER, Richard E. SWENSSON, Joel M. SNYDER, Joseph R. UTLEY
1984 Japanese Heart Journal  
A 22-month-old girl with Down's syndrome with a direct communication between the right pulmonary artery and left atrium leading to systemic desaturation is presented. She also had an atrial septal defect of the secondum type, which spontaneously closed. She underwent successful ligation of the abnormal communication. The literature is reviewed and, considering the high incidence of cerebral and systemic emboli, early surgical intervention is recommended. Additional Indexing Words: Right
more » ... y artery Left atrium Fistula A direct communication between the right pulmonary artery and left atrium is a distinct clinical and anatomic entity. It is a rare and widely unknown cause of cyanosis which is surgically curable and can lead to serious embolic and septic complications. To date, 21 cases have been reported in the literature.1)-20) This report describes a 22-month-old girl with Down's syndrome and this anomaly who was successfully treated surgically. Some of the clinical and anatomic features of the previously reported cases are also described. This condition merits inclusion in the differential diagnostic list of cyanosis of obscure etiology in any age group. CASE REPORT This 22-month-old girl was the product of a normal spontaneous delivery and full-term pregnancy. Her birth weight was 3,100Gm. Features of From the Divisions
doi:10.1536/ihj.25.139 fatcat:lfngxvprxvdr3hui3e6bdtr3mi