Unusual clinical presentation of rare adult survivors with a missing pulmonary valve associated with a missing left pulmonary artery

Agénésie de la valve pulmonaire avec communication interventriculaire découverte à l'âge adulte suite à une endocardite infectieuse : à propos d'un cas

Absent pulmonary valve syndrome is a rare congenital heart disease. Associated with ventricular septal defect, it is considered a rare variant of Tetralogy of Fallot "Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome". It is characterized by its association with aneurysmal pulmonary arteries responsible for airways compression. Survival to adulthood of this unrepaired congenital heart disease is very rare, and the case of the patient we report in this article is added to the rare cases reported in the literature. Clinical tolerance depends on the degree of severity of the malformation and in particular on the importance of the aneurysmal dilation of the pulmonary arteries, thus determining the age of the diagnosis, the severity of symptoms, and the mode of evolution. Diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome must be established by transthoracic echography. Other investigations can be of capital contribution, such as thoracic computed tomography angiography and cardiac catheterization. The treatment is surgical and includes closure of the ventricular septal defect, relieve right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and surgical reduction of the aneurysmal pulmonary arteries.

Unilateral absence of pulmonary artery with absent pulmonary valve in tetralogy of Fallot

The incidence of absent pulmonary valve (APV) in tetralogy of Fallot is 2.4 to 6.3%. About 1-3% of the patients with tetralogy of Fallot will have unilateral absence of pulmonary artery (UAPA). However, coexistence of APV with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and UAPA is extremely rare. This rare subset can present in two forms. In one group, the main pulmonary artery continues as either left or right pulmonary artery (UAPA) and there is true absence of contralateral pulmonary artery. The second group is termed as unilateral anomalous origin of pulmonary artery (UAOPA), in which the contralateral lung is supplied either by patent ductus arteriosus or a collateral from the aorta. There are a limited number of these cases in the literature. We present a rare case of TOF with APV and UAPA managed using a different surgical technique. Also, we have done contemporary literature review.

Unusual association of isolation of right pulmonary artery in absent pulmonary valve syndrome

Absence of arterial duct, a sixth aortic arch derivative, plays an important etiologic role in Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome. When fetal ductus is absent, the large right ventricular stroke volume dilates the pulmonary trunk leading to pulmonary regurgitation. A proximal extension of the embryonic insult to the entire left sixth arch causes absence of the left pulmonary artery, a common association of absent pulmonary valve syndrome. On the contrary, absence of right pulmonary artery is not reported in absent pulmonary valve syndrome. A rare combination of tetralogy, absent pulmonary valve syndrome and isolation of a hypoplastic right pulmonary artery offered challenges to diagnosis and management.

A rare congenital cardiac anomaly in adulthood: tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome

In approximately 3% to 6% of the patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), the pulmonary valve leaflets are absent or only a rudimentary ridge of tissue is present. Some infants with the severe form of this syndrome die early during the newborn period due to severe respiratory distress, feeding intolerance, or cardiovascular compromise. Survival to adulthood of this combination is extremely unusual. In this article, we presented a case who was diagnosed in adult age with TOF having absent pulmonary valve syndrome. The patient with these findings underwent surgery, and complete repair was performed. Clinical symptoms resolved after surgery.