Prenatal diagnosis of an aorto-pulmonary window by fetal echocardiography

Congenital aorto-pulmonary window or congenital aorto-pulmonary septal defect is a rare fetal malformation usually diagnosed after birth by echocardiography and usually associated with other congenital cardiovascular abnormalities (interrupted aortic arch, ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot). The authors report the first case of prenatal diagnosis of an aorto-pulmonary window associated with a ventricular septal defect identified by fetal ultrasonography at 28 weeks of pregnancy. The diagnosis was based on the echocardiographic images of normal semilunar aortic and pulmonic valves with evidence of a septal defect between the ascending aorta and pulmonary artery. The purpose of this report is to demonstrate the feasibility of antenatal diagnosis of this fetal malformation and help professionals who would be faced with such an unexpected prenatal image.