Interventional closure of RPA-to-LA communication in an oligosymptomatic neonate.
Direct communication between the right pulmonary artery (RPA) and the left atrium (LA) is a very rare cardiac malformation. Clinical presentation of RPA-to-LA communication depends on the size of the communication, the amount of right-to-left shunt, the patient's age, and pulmonary vascular resistance. Patients with small communications usually present oligosymptomatic and are diagnosed at an older age. A delay of diagnosis bears the risk of severe complications and needs to be prevented by proper work-up of oligosymptomatic neonates. Treatment of RPA-to-LA communications used to be performed by surgical closure, and the interventional approach has only been established as a less invasive alternative in recent years.


CONCLUSIONS
Although patients with small RPA-to-LA communications usually present oligosymptomatic, early diagnosis and treatment is essential to prevent life-threatening complications.
Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University Children's Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse, 758032, Zurich, Switzerland, dominik.benz1@gmail.com.
Dominik C
DC
Benz
Barbara
B
Burkhardt
Daniel
D
Quandt
Dominik
D
Stambach
Walter
W
Knirsch
Oliver
O
Kretschmar
D000792:Angiography; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods