Aorticopulmonary septal defect. An experience with 17 patients.

Seventeen patients with aorticopulmonary septal defect were studied over a period of 1S years. This report includes clinical, electrocardiographic, radiographic, cardiac catheterization, and angiocardiographic data on the patients. Clinical examination usually showed a large left-to-right shunt and significant pulmonary hypertension. A definitive diagnosis was made by cardiac catheterization and angiography in I2 patients. The presence of a systolic ejection click in 5 patients and a right aortic arch in 3 was a diagnostic help and may differentiate aorticopulmonary septal defect from persistent ductus arteriosus. The catheter position at the time of haemodynamic study was also of diagnostic importance. Associated lesions were present in 9 patients, and corrected in 4 patients. Twelve patients underwent surgery: complete bypass and moderate total body hypothermia were used in ii patients. Four patients underwent postoperative haemodynamic studies.