Surgical Repair of Aortopulmonary Window in Infants

Background: Aortopulmonary window is a rare congenital heart defect resulting from a communication between the main pulmonary artery and the ascending aorta. Surgical closure is indicated in all patients with aortopulmonary window and should be performed at the time of diagnosis to prevent irreversible pulmonary vascular disease. Methods: From 1990 to 2002, 4 infants with aortopulmonary window underwent surgical correction. The defects ranged from 0.4 to 0.6 cm in size and they were all proximal type. Associated cardiac lesions were present in 2 cases, including 1 case with coarctation of the aorta and patent ductus arteriosus, and the other with atrial septal defect. These procedures were performed under the cardiopulmonary bypass and the associated cardiac lesions were corrected simultaneously. Results: There was neither early nor late death. During the period of follow-up (10 months to 12 years), no residual defect was noted and neither distortion nor stenosis of great artery was found. Conclusions: Early correction of aortopulmonary window at the time of diagnosis is advised. Repair of aortopulmonary window can be performed in neonates and infants with excellent results.