TRUNCUS ARTERIOSUS WITH PATENT DUCTUS-ARTERIOSUS AND NORMAL AORTIC-ARCH

In hearts with a common arterial trunk (truncus arteriosus), there is almost always an inverse development of the aortic arch and the ductus arteriosus. Truncus with a normal aortic arch and a patent ductus is a rare echocardiographic and surgical finding. In this report, we desc ribe 2 neonates in whom truncus arteriosus with a normal aortic arch a nd a medium or large patent ductus was diagnosed by preoperative echoc ardiography (without catheterization) and confirmed intraoperatively. (C) 1997 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.