Prenatal Diagnosis of an Aortopulmonary Window With an Interrupted Aortic Arch

J Ultrasound Med. 2016 Oct;35(10):2087-93. doi: 10.7863/ultra.15.11021. Epub 2016 Aug 8.

Abstract

A prenatal aortopulmonary window with an interrupted aortic arch was detected in a 22-week-old fetus. The 3-vessel and trachea view showed a communication between the ascending aorta and the pulmonary artery. Early postnatal surgery was successful. A PubMed-based search identified all cases of prenatal aortopulmonary windows between 2002 and 2015. Nine articles were identified. The average gestational age at diagnosis was 28 weeks (range, 22-33 weeks). The most frequent aortopulmonary window was type I (40%). All cases were associated with congenital heart defects, mainly an interrupted aortic arch (50%). No chromosomal or extracardiac abnormalities were seen. Prenatal echocardiography is useful for early diagnosis of an aortopulmonary window. The prognosis depends on the time of surgery and the nature of the associated anomalies.

Keywords: aortopulmonary septal defect; aortopulmonary window; congenital heart defect; interrupted aortic arch; obstetric ultrasound; prenatal diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aorta / abnormalities*
  • Aorta / diagnostic imaging*
  • Aorta / embryology
  • Aorta, Thoracic / abnormalities
  • Aorta, Thoracic / diagnostic imaging
  • Aorta, Thoracic / embryology
  • Aortic Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Aortic Diseases / embryology
  • Aortic Diseases / surgery
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pulmonary Artery / abnormalities*
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pulmonary Artery / embryology
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal*