Disorder - Aorticopulmonary septal defect

Organ Systems Involved
Cardiovascular

Alternative disorders described within LIDA

Pulmonic stenosis (subvalvular, valvular, supravalvular), Patent ductus arteriosus, Tetralogy of Fallot, Ventricular septal defect, Aortic atresia

Alternative Names
Partial truncus, aorticopulmonary fistula, aorticopulmonary window, Aorticopulmonary fenestration

Presenting Signs

An aorticopulmonary septal defect occurs when the arteries leading to the body (the aorta) and to the lungs (the pulmonary artery) fail to separate completely during development. Normally the two arteries (the structure is called the aorticopulmonary trunk) would be separated by a wall, or septum. Because the two blood streams are not separate there is mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. Young cats show generalised signs, such as loss of appetite, depression and exercise intolerance. More specifically, they may have difficulty breathing and breathe with their mouths open, and have blue gums, a distended abdomen and other symptoms associated with congestive heart failure. Obvious signs may not be apparent until maturity.

Cats at Risk

Familial link

Treatment

Surgical correction of the defect. Medical

PubMed References
Aorticopulmonary septal defect

Contributor
Prabhpreet Kaur