title: Aortopulmonary window: a single institution surgical experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aortopulmonary window is a rare cardiac anomaly. We report our experience with this rare lesion and highlight the criteria for treating this defect without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.
  
  
  METHODS
  From May 2007 to April 2012, 10 patients, aged 1 to 10 months and weighing 3.4 to 5.5 kg, were operated on by a single surgeon using both off-pump and standard techniques. All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative echocardiographic assessment, and were followed up with clinical examinations and echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no operative death and all patients were alive at the last follow-up. No major morbidities were noted. Two cases were operated on off-pump and they had shorter intensive care unit stays. All patients were in New York Heart Association class I on follow-up, with no residual shunt noted in follow-up echocardiograms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The surgical closure of aortopulmonary window carries a low surgical risk. Early surgical closure prevents the development of pulmonary vascular disease and achieves good immediate and long-term outcomes. Off-pump repair techniques, when used judiciously, have a place in the treatment of this defect.
authors.affiliation: Fortis Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center, Mulund, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Abhijeet V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.forename: Prasanna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salvi
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mhatre
authors.forename: Sanah Merchant
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Soomar
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joshi
mesh_terms: D001011:Aorta / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Aorta; aortopulmonary septal defect; cardiovascular surgical procedures; infant; pulmonary artery