title: [Left aorto-ventricular tunnel. Diagnosis with transthoracic and transesophageal echo-Doppler].
abstract: Aortic-left ventricular tunnel is an infrequent congenital heart lesion consisting of an abnormal tubular-shaped communication between the aortic root and the left ventricle that bypasses the aortic valve. It is clinically undistinguishable from aortic insufficiency. Its prompt and precise diagnosis is crucial since early surgical treatment is definitely indicated, in contrast to aortic insufficiency. In our case, two-dimensional and pulsed color-flow Doppler imaging established the diagnosis, and the transesophageal approach was a great aid in detecting the aortic opening with its turbulent diastolic flow, and in tracing its intramyocardial course. This paper may be of interest not just as a new case-report but insofar as it stresses how importantly the transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic and Doppler scanning contributes to its diagnosis and therapeutic indication.
authors.affiliation: Unidades de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardíaca Pediátricas, Hospital Universitario Materno-Infantil Vall d'Hebron, Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casaldàliga
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Girona
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bel
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miró
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murtra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006343:Heart Septal Defects / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013909:Thorax
vernacular_title: Túnel aorto-ventricular izquierdo. Diagnóstico mediante eco-Doppler transtorácica y transesofágica.