title: Severe Ebstein's anomaly can benefit from a small ventricular septal defect: two cases.
abstract: Ebstein's anomaly is a rare congenital heart defect. Associated lesions are uncommon, and the mortality rates can be as high as 54% during the first month of life. Two cases of severe Ebstein's anomaly with ventricular septal defect are described. It is speculated that this rare association, allowing adequate forward pulmonary blood flow in the neonate, permitted the reported patients to survive the neonatal period, which is the most life-threatening time. The authors propose that the presence of a small ventricular septal defect can be beneficial for such patients, averting the need for surgery during early infancy when the risk is highest.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Pasqua
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Zorzi
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rinelli
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D004437:Ebstein Anomaly / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen