[Persistent ductus arteriosus in the adult--report of a case]

The authors describe a case of congenital heart disease no longer frequent in adults, due to an early diagnosis and surgical treatment. The patent ductus arteriosus in adults who received no therapy can present several forms of evolution, depending on its own hemodynamic profile. The present case is an example of a congenital heart disease not diagnosed during the childhood, that developed pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure. These clinical situations have a bad prognosis and place this patient in a group of high surgical risk. Thus, surgery is not advisable considering the bad prognosis and early high mortality rate.