Congenital fistula between the aorta and left atrium

A child in whom abnormal vessels connected the descending thoracic aorta and the left atrium is described. This is a previously unreported congenital malformation. Clinically this condition differs from the more common aorto-cardiac fistulas in that the continuous murmur was better heard posteriorly as well as in the right parasternal area. Ligation of the aberrant vessels abolished the murmur.