[Aortico-left ventricular tunnel: a rare differential diagnosis of congenital aortic insufficiency].
Aortico-left ventricular tunnel (ALVT) is a rare congenital cardiac malformation that presents with cardiac failure and clinical findings of severe aortic regurgitation in early infancy. The diagnosis should be made with 2-D echocardiography by demonstrating an abnormal tunnel-like structure that connects the ascending aorta with the left ventricle. Up to 45% of the patients may have associated cardiac defects, and the development of this bizarre lesion is still unclear. In contrast to congenital aortic regurgitation, ALVT has a better prognosis. Early surgical intervention is curative, but non-operated children die because of heart failure. Therefore, knowledge of this rare cardiac malformation is mandatory if an infant presents with findings of aortic regurgitation.
Reitz
M
M
Abteilung für Kinderkardiologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität-Düsseldorf Moorensr. 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
Heusch
A
A
Paulus-Koschik
A
A
Schmidt
K G
KG
D001011:Aorta / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004452:Echocardiography; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery