Aorto-Left Ventricular Tunnel : a Surgical Intervention at 2 Hours after Birth

Abstract

A male infant was diagnosed with aorto-left ventricular tunnel (ALVT) because of advanced left ventricular hypertrophy and massive reflux from the aorta to the left ventricle during the fetal period. Aorto-left ventricular tunnel closure was emergently performed 2 h after birth in cooperation with the hospital where he was born. The aortic end of the ALVT was located above the right-left coronary commissure, and the measured diameter was 8 mm. The aortic valve was tricuspid, but it was thickened and the opening was limited ; it was further complicated by a right coronary artery anomaly. Taking the valve distortion and surgical invasion into consideration, only the aortic end was closed using an autologous pericardial patch. Although mild aortic valve stenosis and regurgitation remained after surgery, the postoperative course was uneventful, and the left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac function were improved.