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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1982; 30(3): 180-183
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1022240
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Two-dimensional Echocardiographic Recognition and Surgical Management of Aortopulmonary Septal Defect in the Premature Infant

D. R. Pieroni1 , R. L. Gingell1 , J.-M. A. Roland1 , C. Y. Chung3 , J. J. Broda2 , S. Subramanian2
  • 1Department of Cardiology, The Children's Hospital of Buffalo, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA
  • 2Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Buffalo, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA
  • 3Hamot Medical Center, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
Further Information

Publication History

1981

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

An aorticopulmonary septal defect (APSD) results from failure of proper conotruncal separation. The hemodynamic consequences of this lesion closely resemble that of other large left-to-right shunt defects, especially a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Failure to differentiate these 2 abnormalities has not infrequently led to an inappropriate surgical approach in pursuit of the far more common PDA.

This report describes the two-dimensional echocardiographic (2-DE) recognition of an APSD in 2 premature infants. Survival of these delicate neonates indicates that successful surgery can be performed even in small infants.

A thorough 2-DE examination for an APSD is recommended for any infant before proceeding to surgery for a suspected PDA, especially when cardiac catheterization has not been performed.

Key words

Aorticopulmonary septal defect - Two-dimensional echocardiography - Congenital heart disease - Cardiac surgery - Prematurity

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