Congenital aortico-left ventricular tunnel in fetuses and infants

Abstract

Congenital aortico-left ventricular tunnel (ALVT) is a rare congenital heart disease. A 27-year-old woman was referred to us at 37 weeks gestation with fetal cardiac enlargement. The left ventricle (LV) of the fetus was enlarged. Fetal aortic valve (AoV) ring diameter spread was observed. Back flow from the AoV margins to the LV was observed. The prenatal diagnosis of the fetus was aortic regurgitation (AR). A male neonate was delivered by cesarean section at 40 weeks gestation. We made the diagnosis of ALVT because the aorta and the LV of the neonate showed a tunnel with blood flow on echocardiography. We took another look at the fetal echocardiography. The neonate underwent surgery for exacerbation of heart failure on the 7th day after birth. Trivial flow from the tunnel and mild AR were observed after surgery.

Keywords: Aortic regurgitation; Aortico-left ventricular tunnel; Prenatal examination; Ultrasound.