Aortopulmonary window: a single institution surgical experience.

BACKGROUND: Aortopulmonary window is a rare cardiac anomaly. We report our experience with this rare lesion and highlight the criteria for treating this defect without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.

METHODS: From May 2007 to April 2012, 10 patients, aged 1 to 10 months and weighing 3.4 to 5.5 kg, were operated on by a single surgeon using both off-pump and standard techniques. All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative echocardiographic assessment, and were followed up with clinical examinations and echocardiography.

RESULTS: There was no operative death and all patients were alive at the last follow-up. No major morbidities were noted. Two cases were operated on off-pump and they had shorter intensive care unit stays. All patients were in New York Heart Association class I on follow-up, with no residual shunt noted in follow-up echocardiograms.

CONCLUSIONS: The surgical closure of aortopulmonary window carries a low surgical risk. Early surgical closure prevents the development of pulmonary vascular disease and achieves good immediate and long-term outcomes. Off-pump repair techniques, when used judiciously, have a place in the treatment of this defect.