[Echocardiographic diagnosis of anomalous origin of one pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta].
OBJECTIVE
To present our experience in the echocardiographic diagnosis of anomalous origin of one pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta (AOPA). To analyze its clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes with special emphasis in the echocardiographic data.


METHODS
We reviewed restrospectively the clinical, hemodynamic data, and surgical findings of patients with an echocardiographic diagnosis of AOPA studied in the Hospital Infantil of Mexico "Federico Gomez" from 1991 to 2002.


RESULTS
The study includes 12 children with AOPA; Seven were males. The average age at diagnosis was two months; 4 in neonatal period, 3 under 1 year and 5 older than 1 year. The diagnosis was established prospectively by echocardiography in all patients and it was confirmed by angiography in 8 and at surgery in 9. Ten had anomalous origin of right pulmonary artery. The associated anomalies were patent ductus arteriosus in 6, ventricular septal defect in 2 and aortopulmonary window, atrioventricular discordance, double outlet right ventricle and tetralogy of Fallot in one case each. Nine underwent corrective surgery of all the anomalies. One patient died on the sixth postoperative day; the remaining are in good condition without stenosis at the site of the anastomosis. Surgery was refused in one. One patient was not candidate to surgery due to advanced obstructive pulmonary vascular disease (OPVD) and one case is awaiting surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of AOPA may be established with precision through echocardiography. Cardiac catheterization is seldom needed to confirm morphology but is mandatory in older children with suspected of OPVD.
Reyes de la Cruz
Lorenzo
L
Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, México D.F. Lorenz_30@yahoo.com
Vizcaíno Alarcón
Alfredo
A
Arévalo Salas
Alexis
A
Espinosa Islas
Gonzalo
G
Bolio Cerdán
Alejandro
A
Arteaga Martínez
Manuel
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001011:Aorta / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods