A rare cause of cyanosis in newborns: arteriovenous fistula between the right pulmonary artery and the left atrium and its treatment

Abstract

The formation of a fistula between the right pulmonary artery and the left atrium via a sac is a very rare cyanotic congenital cardiopulmonary defect. A fistula between the pulmonary artery and left atrium may cause cardiac failure in utero. It can safely be treated surgically and in selected cases closure can be performed with transcatheter insertion of a device. In this article, we present a case with a fistula between the right pulmonary artery and the left atrium that was considered unsuitable for transcatheter closure and was safely treated surgically.

Keywords: Fistula; arteriovenous malformation; cyanosis; general cardiology; surgical treatment.