Open AccessNever too grown-up for a congenital heart disease: Diagnosis of transitional atrioventricular canal in a 50-year-old male
Author(s) -
Francesca De Angelis,
Ketty Savino,
Alessandro Colombo,
Mariagrazia Sardone,
Giuseppe Ambrosio
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular echography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.255
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 2347-193X
pISSN - 2211-4122
DOI - 10.4103/jcecho.jcecho_28_18
Subject(s) - medicine , atrioventricular canal , heart disease , differential diagnosis , cardiology , physical examination , pediatrics , exertional dyspnea , pathology
Transitional atrioventricular (AV) septal defects are uncommon congenital heart defects, and diagnosis is usually made in childhood. We present the case of intermediate AV canal diagnosed in a man referring to cardiological examination for the first time in his life at the age of fifty for exertional dyspnea. The absence of medical examination or execution of electrocardiogram or echocardiogram in childhood or in youth and the very late appearance of symptoms lead to a late diagnosis of this congenital heart disease (CHD). This case underlines the importance of including CHD in the differential diagnosis of symptoms such as chronic dyspnea, also in adulthood.