Unusual presentation of a patent ductus arteriosus: A case report

A 48 years old patient, with no medical history was referred to the cardiovascular surgeon of our department for a right medio-ventricular resection diagnosed after 2 episodes of syncope. The transthoracic echocardiography revealed a severe RV hypertrophy with aspect of sub-pulmonary stenosis. An invasive hemodynamic assessment was performed and concluded to a severe Pulmonary arterial hypertension. During the invasive right cardiac exploration, the catheter run easily into an unknown large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). PDA in adults is an extremely rare clinical phenomenon since it is usually discovered and treated during childhood. However, physicians need to be aware of potential situations, signs and symptoms that might suggest a previously undiagnosed PDA.