Beyond Childhood: Percutaneous Closure of an Aortopulmonary Window with Severe Pulmonary Hypertension in an Adult Woman – A Case Report
Aortopulmonary window (APW) is a rare congenital heart defect that may progress to pulmonary hypertension if untreated. Presented here is the case of a 25-year-old woman with type 1 APW diagnosed in childhood who presented with chest pain, headache, dyspnoea, and transient loss of consciousness. Imaging confirmed severe pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure 50 mmHg) and a positive vasoreactivity test, allowing for percutaneous closure. A 14 mm Amplatzer Septal Occluder was implanted under transoesophageal echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance. Postoperative complications comprised non-immune haemolytic anaemia and haematuria, likely due to minimal residual shunting, both managed conservatively. At 3-month follow-up, echocardiography showed stable device position, no residual shunt, pulmonary pressure reduction (36 mmHg), and mildly decreased systolic function with persistent left-sided dilation. This case supports the feasibility of percutaneous APW closure in selected adults with reversible pulmonary hypertension and highlights the need for structured echocardiographic and haemodynamic follow-up.
Authors
- Marta Escribano Burgos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6644-1828)
- M.T. Guillén (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8410-595X)
- Rafel Ernesto Portaluppi Cervantes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4270-5845)
- Fernando E. Prado (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1274-1220)
- Jhon Mario German Gaibor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1352-1849)
Institutions
- Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil (EC)
- Kennedy Clinic Hospital (EC)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Interventional Cardiology Reviews Research Resources
- Published
- 2025-12-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.15420/icr.2025.20
- Primary Topic
- Congenital Heart Disease Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00