Case Report Open Access
Arnet et al., Neonat Pediatr Med 2017, 3:2
DOI: 10.4172/2572-4983.1000138
Neonat Pediatr Med, an open access journal
ISSN: 2572-4983
Volume 3 • Issue 2 • 1000138
Aortopulmonary Window in an Infant with Type I Osteogenesis
Imperfecta: Case Report
Vanessa Arnet*, Sandra Pereira, Jefferson Magalhães, Claudia Airoza, Tatiana Berg and Renata Barcelos
Perinatal Maternity, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Abstract
Some studies have shown an association between osteogenesis imperfecta and congenital heart diseases, but
only those involving changes in the connective tissue of heart structures, such as heart valves, chordae tendineae,
fbrous rings, ventricular septum and aortic root (dilatation). The concomitant presence of osteogenesis imperfecta
and aortopulmonary window has not been reported in the specialized literature, rendering the present case report
uncommon. We report the case of a male infant aged 2 months and 15 days, diagnosed with type I osteogenesis
imperfecta and type I aortopulmonary window, submitted to surgery to completely repair his heart disease. In addition,
we provide a literature review and discuss the clinical and surgical approaches to this infant, emphasizing that previous
multidisciplinary planning is essential for a successful outcome.
*Corresponding author: Vanessa Arnet, Perinatal Maternity, Barra da Tijuca, Rio
de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Tel: 5521981241658; E-mail: vanarnet@yahoo.com
Received October 04, 2016; Accepted November 03, 2016; Published November
14, 2017
Citation: Arnet V, Pereira S, Magalhães J, Airoza C, Berg T, et al. (2017)
Aortopulmonary Window in an Infant with Type I Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Case
Report. Neonat Pediatr Med 3: 138. doi: 10.4172/2572-4983.1000138
Copyright: © 2017 Arnet V, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and
source are credited.
Keywords: Congenital cardiopathy; Osteogenesis imperfecta
Abbreviations: OI: Osteogenesis Imperfecta; ICU: Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit
Introduction
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetically heritable disease
characterized by imperfect bone formation, which leads to bone
fragility and bone mass loss [1]. Tis occurs because both the structure
and function of type 1 collagen are afected by gene mutations [2]. OI
has an incidence of approximately 1 per 15,000-20,000 births, and a
heterogeneous clinical presentation, ranging from asymptomatic to
lethal [3].
Initially, OI was classifed by Sillence, et al. [4,5] into 4 types based
on its clinical characteristics and severity. Recently, types V, VI, VII
and VIII [6,7] have been added, and, despite having no defect in the
collagen gene, they are characterized by bone frailty (Table 1).
Te association of OI with congenital heart disease leads to
changes in the connective tissue [4,8]. Such changes have a structural
impact on the cardiovascular system, afecting heart valves, chordae
tendineae, fbrous rings, interventricular septum, arteries and the aorta
[9,10]. Publications on severe cardiac structural changes in patients
with OI have been infrequent, most studies reporting on aortic root
dilatation and valvular dysfunction in those patients [11]. Te major
medical journals lack reports on the association of OI with congenital
aortopulmonary window.
Te aortopulmonary window is rare, accounting for approximately
0.15% of all congenital heart diseases. It results from the abnormal
septation of the aortopulmonary trunk during embryogenesis, leading
to a communication defect between the ascending aorta and the
pulmonary trunk or artery [12]. According to Mori’s classifcation
[13], adapted by Ho [14], the types of aortopulmonary window are as
follows: type I (proximal – 70%); type II (distal – 20%); type III, (5%), a
combination of types I and II, simulating a truncus arteriosus [15]; and
type IV, the intermediate defect (Figure 1). In approximately 80% of the
cases, identifcation of the aortopulmonary window can be hindered by
its association with another cardiac anomaly [16].
We report the case of an infant with OI and congenital heart disease,
submitted to surgical repair, its relevance lying in the presence of OI as
an underlying bone disorder. In addition, the clinical, anesthetic and
surgical approaches are discussed.
Case Report
Te patient is a male twin infant, born by Cesarean delivery at term
and birth weight of 2460 g. His mother has type I OI. He was admitted
to the neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) because of respiratory distress
in the frst hours following birth.
In the neonatal ICU, he required ventilation with positive pressure
and nasal prong. As the dyspnea persisted, he was submitted to several
inconclusive echocardiographies and to inefective treatments. Te
infant was, then, referred for new imaging tests at a specialized hospital,
where an echocardiogram raised the suspicion of heart disease. A
tomographic angiography confrmed that by evidencing proximal
aortopulmonary window and increased pulmonary fow. Diuretic was
then initiated, resulting in improvement of the respiratory fndings,
and progressive ventilator weaning to room air. Te infant was then
referred to a specialized hospital that provided heart surgery.
His preoperative echocardiogram revealed patent foramen ovale,
mild tricuspid regurgitation, signifcant overload of the lef cavities,
dilated pulmonary artery and veins, wide 9.0-mm aortopulmonary
window, and preserved myocardial function. His preoperative
laboratory tests were normal.
On the third day of admission, the infant was sent to the operating
room for total repair of his heart disease. He was carefully placed on the
operating table, which was topped with an “egg-box” mattress (Figure
2). Te infant was properly positioned for surgery, with pads placed
under the pressure points. Orotracheal intubation was performed
N
e
o
n
a
t
a
l
a
n
d
P
e
d
i
at
r
i
c
M
e
d
i
c
i
e
n
ISSN: 2572-4983
Journal of Neonatal and Pediatric
Medicine