Aortic atresia

Aortic valvular atresia. Associated cardiovascular anomalies

The pathological anatomy of 109 specimens of aortic valvular atresia was reviewed for the purpose of identifying the cardiovascular anomalies associated with that condition. We found the most commonly associated anomaly to be coarctation of the aorta, which was present in 71 percent of our cases and judged to be hemodynamic significance in one-third of the involved cases. Other associated anomalies, in order of decreasing frequency, were mitral atresia, anomalous systemic and pulmonary venous connections, abnormalities of branching of the aortic arch, and ventricular septal defect. The study demonstrated that aortic atresia is associated with a significant incidence of other cardiovascular anomalies. Additional anomalies, when present, may complicate emerging attempts at surgical correction of this condition.

Hypoplasia of the left ventricle in four ruminants

Two different congenital malformations of the heart were seen in two calves and two ewe lambs. In all these malformations the left ventricle was more or less hypoplastic; it was small with a narrow lumen and a thick wall. In one malformation the aorta began as a cul-de-sac above the left ventricle; in the other, the aorta arose from the right ventricle, to the right of the supraventricular crest.

Absent tricuspid valve with aortic atresia in mixed levocardia (atria situs solitus, L-loop). A hitherto undescribed entity

Clinical, angiographic and pathologic features are described in a 36-hour-old male infant with mixed (discordant) levocardia, aortic valve atresia, absent tricuspid (left atrioventricular) valve and resultant massive cardiomegaly. This is the first reported case of this type of complex in a heart with discordant chambers. A possible embryologic explanation is offered for the concomitant presence of semilunar valve atresia and absence of the tricuspid valve.

Aortic valve atresia with a normally developed left ventricle

Aortic valve atresia is usually associated with hypoplasia of the left ventricle and mitral valve. We report a patient presenting aortic atresia with ventricular septal defect and a normally sized left ventricle. The electrocardiogram showed left axis deviation and left ventricular hypertrophy. The ventricular septal defect probably favored a normal growth of the left ventricle, allowing it to unload with systole.