title: Unexpected cause of cyanosis and dyspnea in an adult: direct communication of the right pulmonary artery and left atrium.
abstract: Direct communication of the right pulmonary artery and the left atrium is an extremely rare congenital malformation of the pulmonary vasculature. A 41-year-old woman with a history of cyanosis since childhood presented with mild exertional dyspnea. On physical examination, she had central cyanosis, clubbing of the fingers, and an upright position caused by orthodeoxia. Imaging studies showed a very large aneurysm in the distal right pulmonary artery with a direct communication to the left atrium. The patient underwent successful repair, with resolution of hypoxia and exertional symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. Electronic address: idogukilic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ismail Dogu
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yusuf I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Alihanoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nevzat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karabulut
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fırat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Durna
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bilgin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Emrecan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D035583:Rare Diseases; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*