[Ebstein's anomaly and interventricular communication, a rare association]

The Ebstein's anomaly is a malformation of the tricuspid valve, in which the septal and posterior leaflets are attached to the wall of the right ventricle. The usual association is with an atrial septal defect, followed by pulmonary stenosis and pulmonary atresia; the ventricular septal defect is unusual. We present three cases with diagnosis of Ebstein's anomaly and ventricular septal defect. The initial presentation of the first two was an acyanotic heart defect with congestive heart failure and increased pulmonary flow, whereas the third patient was cyanotic and functionally impaired. The three patients underwent surgery. In the first one, the ventricular septal defect was corrected with a valvular patch, a pleat of the atrialized portion, and a tricuspid valvuloplasty. The outcome was aberrant; the patient had multiple arrhythmia episodes and died five days after surgery. In the second case, only the ventricular septal defect was corrected, the patient remains under treatment and is in functional class II. In the third patient, a one and a half ventricular surgery with a tricuspid prosthesis was performed; the outcome was favorable, the patient is in functional class II. The association of Ebstein's anomaly and ventricular septal defect is unusual. The increase of the pulmonary flow is due to the size and location of the ventricular defect. A good clinical judgment is needed to make a correct diagnosis and timely treatment.