Left Ventricular to Right Atrial Shunt in a Preterm Infant: A Case Report

Background and Clinical Significance: Premature infants are at high risk of life-threatening complications due to the immaturity of multiple organ systems, and close monitoring in neonatal intensive care units is indispensable for their stabilization, survival, and morbidities. Despite major advances in perinatal care, cardiovascular pathology remains one of the most frequent morbidities in this population. Targeted neonatal echocardiography is implemented in many neonatal intensive care units around the world; it provides earlier and precise assessment during hemodynamic instability, allowing targeted management and follow-up. It can also detect red flags for anatomical heart defects. Left ventricular to right atrial shunt is a rare and presents a challenging diagnostic entity in very premature neonates. Case Presentation: We present a case of left ventricular to right atrial shunt in a preterm baby that was diagnosed by the Targeted neonatal echocardiography team. Conclusions: The purpose of this case report is to illustrate how targeted neonatal echocardiography enabled the identification of this rare diagnosis in a premature infant, which underscores its growing utility and value in neonatal care.